BAE: We welcome Blair’s Trident decision

BAE Systems chief executive Mike Turner has praised the government's decision to replace the Trident nuclear system.

BAE Systems, which built and maintains the current Trident system at its plant in Barrow-on-Furness in Cumbria, said the decision would be good for British jobs.

Mr Turner said: "BAE Systems welcomes the decision that the UK's future nuclear deterrent will be deployed by submarine, which means the UK can sustain a very high level of skills and capabilities within its defence industrial base."

Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, had suggested the decision should be postponed but Mr Turner said: "Any delay would have meant a loss of those skills, making the UK dependent upon overseas suppliers."