Pressure mounts on Blair over 'Star Wars' plan

1:30 PM By PAUL WAUGH

The British Government has come under intense pressure to clarify its position on so-called Son of Star Wars technology after a senior adviser to the US president-elect, George Bush, said the proposals were "essential" for European security.

Congressman Bruce Jackson, a leading member of Mr Bush's defence team, warned that relations between the US and Britain would deteriorate if agreement could not be reached on plans for a National Missile Defence (NMD) system.

NMD is an ambitious project to shield the US from nuclear attack by rogue states such as Iraq and Iran by building a defence network that could detect and shoot down missiles.

Although deployment of NMD was put on hold by the Clinton administration, Mr Bush again made clear this week that he wanted to accelerate progress on the plans.

However, Russia and China and several European countries believe the proposals would lead to greater nuclear proliferation and would destroy the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Mr Jackson, a Republican member of the US Committee on Nato, said Europe's defences would be "seriously degraded" if Fylingdales, Britain's early warning radar station in North Yorkshire, was not included in the system. "The Fylingdales complex ... would be essential to the defence of Northern Europe," he told The World at One on BBC Radio 4.

When asked the effect of a British decision to block use of the listening station, Mr Jackson said it would not only affect Anglo-American relations but also the defence of Europe. "Apart from the diplomatic issues, I think it would also materially degrade the security of Europe," he said.

Mr Jackson's remarks underline the potential gulf between London and Washington over the project and came as William Hague, the Tory leader, announced that he would agree to the programme.

Downing Street and Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, were forced to make a statement on the issue after Mr Hague said that refusal to co-operate would wreck the "special relationship" between the two countries.

Mr Hoon said the Government was "sympathetic" to US concerns but repeated his stance that as no firm proposals had been made, there was no need to "come to a view" on the idea. "We have always said we are sympathetic to US concerns and that we understand their problems," he said.

"Our defence interests are closely interlinked with America's, but we cannot come to a view ourselves until US thinking has moved further forward.

"We have not had a chance to discuss this issue with the new administration yet, let alone received a proposal."

Downing Street added that Tony Blair was aware the Bush administration wanted to push ahead with NMD but Britain could not respond until firm proposals were put forward.

However, the Tories accused Labour of prevaricating over the project because ministers such as Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, and Peter Hain, Foreign Office Minister of State, were reportedly opposed to it.

Mr Hague said Britain should "unhesitatingly" agree to upgrade Fylingdales in accordance with US wishes if the missile shield was developed to cover all American allies.

The Tory leader compared his stance to that of Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s, when she approved the deployment of US cruise missiles at Greenham Common.

Mr Hoon was scathing about Mr Hague's comments. "It is typical of William Hague to go blundering around regardless of the sensitivities, and showing no judgement or sense of responsibility.

"Once again it shows his opportunism and his willingness to exploit any issue in an attempt to gain political advantage," he said.

Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "It takes a particular kind of naivety to endorse a system which has so far failed every test. Too much of the Tory language is reminiscent of the Cold War as they try to prove they are Thatcher's children."

Labour sources pointed out that Mrs Thatcher had opposed Ronald Reagan's original Star Wars programme in the 1980s