Trident opposed by two-in-three

An exclusive poll carried out by YouGov for Left Foot Forward reveals that 63 per cent oppose the Government's plans to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent while a diminishing number of people believe that nuclear weapons make them safer.

An exclusive poll carried out by YouGov for Left Foot Forward reveals that 63 per cent oppose the Government’s plans to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent while a diminishing number of people believe that nuclear weapons make them safer.

The poll of 2009 adults carried out between 10th and 11th September shows that only 23 per cent believe that Britain should replace Trident with an equally powerful nuclear missile shield. 40 per cent say that Britain should “retain a minimum nuclear system, but it should be less powerful and cost less than replacing Trident.” A further 23 per cent say Britain should give up nuclear weapons altogether.

The poll also shows that the number of people who think that the possession of nuclear weapons makes Britain safer has fallen from 44 per cent when considering the threat of the Cold War to 32 per cent thinking of the threat faced today or in the future. Thinking about the international issues that Britain might face in future decades, 25 per cent think that “continued possession of nuclear weapons” makes Britain less safe.

The poll comes just days after Greenpeace published evidence that the true cost of Trident could reach £97 billion. Meanwhile, the online campaigning organisation, 38 degrees, today launches a petition on Trident.

25 Responses to “Trident opposed by two-in-three”

  1. Jessica Asato

    Full YouGov Trident poll details for @leftfootfwd here: http://is.gd/3wsXo

  2. Kaveh Azarhoosh

    RT @tommilleruk 2 in 3 oppose Trident. Surely this is where cuts should fall first, as the whole point is not … http://tinyurl.com/lmxflg

  3. Simon Fletcher

    RT leftfootfwd Two-thirds oppose Trident. Exclusive new poll http://bit.ly/E8xXC

  4. James E Siddelley

    The first duty of any Govt is to ensure and to insure the territorial integrity of this (or any other) country.

    To fail to do that invites disaster – and there are no shortages of potential disaster scenarios we saw one in the Falklands War 1982.

    Public opinion is powerful, but it is not the only factor which needs to be borne in mind in any policy issue. If that were so it is very unlikely that hanging would ever have been abolished.

    I want my safety – and yours – guaranteed to the maximum extent possible.

    I will vote for those who say that they will do that.

    I will not vote for those who are recklessly prepared to NOT do that.

  5. keeprightonline

    Excellent, now try doing this poll in a booming economy, or at the height of war-time. In other words, not when Labour has failed this country economically and militarily.

    Your results are in fact a damning of the policies you lefties support. Good work!

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