Trident and Replacement 'Illegal' Say Lawyers in Cherie Blair's Firm
Sun., February 05, 2006. 12:05.
Greens call on Westminster to investigate legality of Brtiain's WMD after damning Matrix Chambers report
Green MSP Chris Ballance said that MPs and MSPs of all parties should demand that a legal judgement on the illegality of Trident, and its proposed £20bn replacement, be raised in Westminster as a matter of urgency.
The Green MSP was commenting on the revelation by lawyers based at Cherie Blair's legal firm Matrix Chambers, which states that the proposed replacement for the Trident Mass Destruction Weapons system would be a 'material breach' of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. (1)
The legal judgement by Professor Christine Chinkin and Rabinder Singh QC was commissioned by Peacerights, an organisation dedicated to peaceful conflict resolution.
Chris Ballance MSP, Green Speaker on Peace, said: “The legal opinion, from two well respected experts, could not be clearer or more definite. Trident is illegal, threatening to use it is illegal and any attempt to seek to replace it with a new weapons system would be illegal.
“At a time when pressure is being applied to Iran not to go down the nuclear route, it is imperative that the UK is seen to comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that includes not acquiring a successor to Trident.
”It is the height of hypocrisy for Blair to grandstand about rogue states and illegal weapons of mass destruction when he is one of the world's leading rogues himself."
Notes
1. For a copy of the legal judgement go to the Peacerights website; or see the Sunday Herald's report Blair faces legal test on Trident... from wife’s legal firm, where the news of the legal document is revealed.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.