Poll Archive

Britain's Nuclear Deterrent

Fieldwork: June 28th 2006 - June 29th 2006

published by The Daily Politics

As long as there are other countries with nuclear weapons Britain should have its own, up-to-date, nuclear deterrent, whatever the cost

	All voters	Men	Women	18-34	35-54	55+	AB	C1	C2	DE
Agree	65%	73%	58%	59%	64%	71%	62%	63%	67%	70%
Disagree	33%	26%	39%	38%	34%	27%	36%	36%	30%	28%
Net agree	+32%	+47%	+19%	+19%	+30%	+64%	+26%	+27%	+37%	+42%

Now that the main threat to Britain's security comes from terrorists rather than foreign superpowers like the Soviet Union, nuclear weapons are no longer the best form of defence.

	All voters	Men	Women	18-34	35-54	55+	AB	C1	C2	DE
Agree	59%	53%	64%	66%	56%	57%	58%	61%	63%	54%
Disagree	37%	43%	31%	30%	40%	38%	37%	35%	33%	42%
Net agree	+22%	+10%	+33%	+36%	+16%	+19%	+19%	+26%	+30%	+12%

No country would launch a nuclear attack on Britain because they know America would defend us so we don't need to replace our nuclear weapons and the money could be better spent on other things.

	All voters	Men	Women	18-34	35-54	55+	AB	C1	C2	DE
Agree	41%	36%	46%	47%	39%	39%	37%	41%	41%	46%
Disagree	57%	62%	52%	50%	60%	58%	62%	55%	58%	51%
Net agree	-16%	-26%	-6%	-3%	-21%	-19%	-25%	-14%	-17%	-5%

Replacing Trident could cost up to 25 billion pounds, this is hard to justify given all the other demands on public spending.

	All voters	Men	Women	18-34	35-54	55+	AB	C1	C2	DE
Agree	64%	58%	70%	73%	64%	57%	62%	72%	61%	59%
Disagree	33%	40%	26%	25%	34%	39%	35%	25%	36%	38%
Net agree	+31%	+18%	+44%	+48%	+30%	+18%	+27%	+47%	+15%	+21%

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 28th June 2006 and 29th June 2006. Interviews were conducted across England and the results have been weighted to be representative of all English adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For a full description of the methods we use, please click here.

Contact me about
this poll