A Labour frontbencher has expressed regret that the party can not ‘ get rid ’ of the Trident nuclear deterrent . Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith said at a hustings event on Wednesday : ‘ We view the world as being a very dangerous and volatile place at the moment . So our policy is that we will retain Trident , we will maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent. ’ But he added : ‘ So we will pursue an independent perspective , the next Labour government , but on the issue of Trident : would but we could get rid of it but I fear that we can ’ t. ’ Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith has expressed regret that the party can not ‘ get rid ’ of the Trident nuclear deterrent . Around three quarters of Labour candidates back scrapping Trident , which preserves a round-the-clock protection at sea in case of a nuclear strike . But the party has committed to maintaining the deterrent , which will need to be replaced in the coming years , in its election manifesto . The Tories have warned that Labour could ‘ sell out ’ Britain in a deal with the SNP which wants to scrap Trident . Replacing the deterrent with a ‘ like for like ’ system would cost around £100bn . Replacing the trident deterrent with a ‘ like for like ’ system would cost around £100bn ( file picture ) Last month a survey found three quarters of Labour ’ s candidates are opposed to renewing Trident . Yesterday shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker said : ‘ Let me be absolutely clear : we are committed to the renewal of Trident . 'We are committed to the retention of a Continuous At-Sea Deterrent and we will follow the advice of experts in terms of delivering that , who say current technology means four boats. ’ A Labour Party spokesman said : ‘ As Owen ’ s comments make abundantly clear , he supports Labour ’ s policy of renewing Britain ’ s Trident nuclear deterrent as a continuous at-sea system . ’
Labour secretary Owen Smith made comments at a hustings event . Three quarters of Labour candidates back scrapping Trident system . Replacing deterrent with a ‘ like for like ’ system would cost around £100bn .