Trident sparks second resignation
Ministerial aide Jim Devine has become the second member of the government to quit over plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons. The Livingston MP quit his job as a parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health. A Labour rebellion is expected in a vote on Wednesday but the Conservatives will back renewal of Trident. The Liberal Democrats say Britain's stockpile of warheads should be cut by 50% but a decision on replacing them should be delayed until at least 2012. The Lib Dems will vote against the government's proposals on Wednesday, with as many as 100 Labour MPs who also oppose renewal.
13 Mar 2007
