Trident’s publicly perceived as the UK’s nuclear deterrent: the means by which we maintain our position of power on the world stage. Of course, this is a myth: Trident’s not, and never has been, in the UK's control. The missiles are targeted by agreement with the US, and the US has a veto over their use. Unlike France, with its own nuclear weapons, or the rest of nuclear free Europe, Britain has become militarily dependent on the US, and its automatic ally as a result.

Never mind the fact that Trident itself is poorly maintained and increasingly outdated. The arrangement allows Bush to wave the fig leaf of British approval, even when the majority of the country are against military action. The addition of Star Wars communication centres at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales continues the process by which the UK is tied into the American war machine. Of course, we have the choice to extricate ourselves. We'd then face US sanctions for this non-compliance, most of which the British public could weather, such as an increase in hostilities in the current trade war. But whether we're ready to face the erosion of our so-called independent nuclear capacity is the big question, and one which Blair may be too afraid to ask.