Left-wing "comedian" Russell Brand has been invited to face shipyard workers after saying the Astute-class submarines they are working on should be scrapped.
He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead.
New nuclear-powered submarines are being built at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian" (although these submarines are only nuclear powered and will not carry nuclear weapons. It is the Vanguard-class submarines which carry the nukes, but you can't expect a Left-wing MP to know much about defence).
The government is looking at a new nuclear weapons system to replace Trident.
The seven new Astute-class submarines for the Royal Navy are HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, HMS Anson, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Ajax. Astute was launched in 2007 and entered service in 2010; Ambush was launched in 2011 and entered service in 2013; and Artful was launched in 2014 and will enter service later this year. The rest are under construction.
Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow
28 January 2015
BBC News
The "Trews" video shows an animated Brand in typically non-conformist style and location
Comedian Russell Brand has been invited to face shipyard workers after saying the Astute-class submarines they are working on should be scrapped.
He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead.
The new submarines are being built at BAE Systems in Barrow, Cumbria.
Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian".
In his own online video he said: "This is a substantial investment, but the overall majority of this goes on employing the many thousands of the most highly-skilled engineers and manufacturers.
"I want us to have more to be able to defend this country than a sharp-witted, eccentric comedian.
"Come to Barrow and meet some of this workforce. Let's do this thing properly."
BAE Systems is building seven nuclear-powered Astute-class submarines.
HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy's seven new Astute-class submarines, exits her birthplace of Devonshire Dock Hall indoor shipbuilding complex - the largest of its kind in Europe - in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in May 2014
Brand had asked how the country could have a "properly-funded NHS".
"Is it at the expense of the arms industry? The answer is obviously yes," he said.
"As the NHS struggles against a £2bn funding gap this year the money diverted into Trident - £3.3bn being spent in the assessment phase, not to mention the £2-3bn we spend every year just running our current Trident system - reflects the choice our government has made."
He appeared to be quoting a New Statesman article by Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in part of what he said.
Brand was unavailable for comment on Mr Woodcock's remarks and BAE declined to comment.
The firm's Barrow shipyard employs about 6,900 people. Around 1,400 of those are currently working on the new submarines.
The government has put the cost of replacing Trident at £15-20bn, but campaigners have argued it will cost at least £34bn.
Watch the Left-wing slimeball's video:
BBC News - Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow
He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead.
New nuclear-powered submarines are being built at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian" (although these submarines are only nuclear powered and will not carry nuclear weapons. It is the Vanguard-class submarines which carry the nukes, but you can't expect a Left-wing MP to know much about defence).
The government is looking at a new nuclear weapons system to replace Trident.
The seven new Astute-class submarines for the Royal Navy are HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, HMS Anson, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Ajax. Astute was launched in 2007 and entered service in 2010; Ambush was launched in 2011 and entered service in 2013; and Artful was launched in 2014 and will enter service later this year. The rest are under construction.
Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow
28 January 2015
BBC News
The "Trews" video shows an animated Brand in typically non-conformist style and location
Comedian Russell Brand has been invited to face shipyard workers after saying the Astute-class submarines they are working on should be scrapped.
He posted a video online saying too much money was spent on defence and it should go to the NHS instead.
The new submarines are being built at BAE Systems in Barrow, Cumbria.
Barrow Labour MP John Woodcock said he would rather be protected by a nuclear deterrent than an "eccentric comedian".
In his own online video he said: "This is a substantial investment, but the overall majority of this goes on employing the many thousands of the most highly-skilled engineers and manufacturers.
"I want us to have more to be able to defend this country than a sharp-witted, eccentric comedian.
"Come to Barrow and meet some of this workforce. Let's do this thing properly."
BAE Systems is building seven nuclear-powered Astute-class submarines.
HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy's seven new Astute-class submarines, exits her birthplace of Devonshire Dock Hall indoor shipbuilding complex - the largest of its kind in Europe - in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in May 2014
Brand had asked how the country could have a "properly-funded NHS".
"Is it at the expense of the arms industry? The answer is obviously yes," he said.
"As the NHS struggles against a £2bn funding gap this year the money diverted into Trident - £3.3bn being spent in the assessment phase, not to mention the £2-3bn we spend every year just running our current Trident system - reflects the choice our government has made."
He appeared to be quoting a New Statesman article by Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in part of what he said.
Brand was unavailable for comment on Mr Woodcock's remarks and BAE declined to comment.
The firm's Barrow shipyard employs about 6,900 people. Around 1,400 of those are currently working on the new submarines.
The government has put the cost of replacing Trident at £15-20bn, but campaigners have argued it will cost at least £34bn.
Watch the Left-wing slimeball's video:
BBC News - Russell Brand Trident attack prompts invitation to Barrow
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