Liam Fox risks Lib-Dem backlash with steel order for new nuclear sub

Liam Fox is to order the steel for the first new nuclear deterrent submarine - despite the Liberal Democrats winning a delay to the formal decision on replacing Trident until after the next election.

The Defence Secretary insisted that the super-strength metal for the submarine hull had to be ordered in the next few years to ensure it was ready in time to continue as Britain's nuclear deterrent.

But the revelation that the metal is to be bought before the main spending decision on replacing Trident, due in 2016, risked a backlash from Liberal Democrat MPs. Carshalton MP Tom Brake said: "It's a false start, he's jumped the gun. Clearly there is a commitment on behalf of the Government to assess the value for money of the Trident replacement programme. This has got to happen before components of the system are being purchased."

Former Lib-Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Although there is a cost involved in ordering the steel, this is by no means a green flag for Trident. The Ministry of Defence budget is increasingly under siege and now that Trident has to come from its core funding, other urgent and important programmes are having to be looked at again."

But Tory MPs hailed Mr Fox for his tough stance on replacing the nuclear deterrent. "I'm delighted that the Secretary of State is showing his mettle," said former Army officer Patrick Mercer MP. "This is a clear indication that he will not be distracted from his course from those who would be happy to leave the nation open to attack."

Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg persuaded David Cameron, who backs a full replacement of the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, to delay the decision on going ahead with its replacement until after the election, due in 2015.

But Mr Fox has now admitted to Labour Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn that the steel will be ordered before then as part of the initial business case.

He said that the order for the specialist steel for the first vessel had to be placed before the main spending decision because of the length of the time needed for the mill run. Mr Fox added that MPs would not be given a vote on whether to press ahead with orders.