FREE INSIDE: HISTORIC DAILY MAIL PULLOUT
PRINCE PHILIP entered the nuclear debate yesterday by backing the bomb.
he said the nuclear deterrent was needed to keep world peace, but added that there was no point in having more than the bare minimum.
it is the first time a leading member of the royal Family has joined the controversy over nuclear weapons and it brought a swift response from labour, which is committed to one-sided disarmament.
The party’s hard-left wing said Philip should keep out of politics. Other labour members took the view that he was entitled to his views, even if they disagreed.
Philip made his remarks during a speech on atomic energy at the institution of civil engineers in london.
he said: ‘All the evidence points to the successful deterrent of nuclear weapons. What really matters is the scruples of their possessors and the character of those individuals with the ultimate power to unleash them. People are far more dangerous than inanimate objects.’
Invasion
he claimed the deterrent effect of nuclear weapons had been successful and went on: ‘Although they do not stop small wars or invasion by stronger powers of their weaker neighbours, they have prevented escalation and they certainly appear to have discouraged armed conflict in europe.’
Then, in comments that will be seen as a criticism of the campaign for nuclear Disarmament (CND), he added: ‘Yet many people believe that wars are created by weapons. The problem is that any weapon capable of killing is dangerous the moment it gets into the hands of anyone with the intention of using it.’
Prince Philip’s remarks suggest he is on the side of Margaret Thatcher’s Government, which supports multilateral disarmament. But labour critics pointed out that they differed from those of his uncle, lord Mountbatten, who believed the arms race would end in catastrophe.
labour MP leo Abse said: ‘he does not appear to have the intellectual courage of his uncle.’ Opposition defence spokesman John Silkin added: ‘Prince Philip is entitled to his opinion but he is wrong.
‘it’s not the position taken by his uncle, who saw the danger of nuclear weapons.’