The failed Trident missile launch is a big embarrassment for Britain

With Keir Starmer having rid the Labour party of its Corbynite doctrines, Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent would not be expected to feature much in the coming general election campaign. But will that change after the failed test firing of a Trident missile, for the second time in a row? The missile, which was launched from HMS Vanguard off the east coast of the United States in January, was intended to travel to the edge of space before landing in the middle of the Atlantic. Instead, it plopped straight into the sea.

We should know a bit more about the incident today when defence secretary Grant Shapps – who was on board the submarine when the failed test firing was made – makes a statement to the Commons. But we are still unlikely to know the full picture given the security implications of informing potential enemies of faults with our missiles. The BBC is reporting this morning that there was nothing wrong with the missile itself, which has a price tag of around £17million, but that the problem was caused by a ‘calibration error’. Other