No to Son of Star Wars

The President will hold talks with Tony Blair tomorrow, and may formally seek permission to expand and update the North Yorkshire bases at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales to include them in the missile defence shield project.

That would turn the county into a prime target for any "rogue state" intent on attacking the West.

North Yorkshire's biggest newspaper today makes it clear that the area is not prepared to be placed in the firing line for what is an unproven, strategically dubious and highly contentious project.

Moreover, we are asking the Prime Minister to withhold Britain's backing at his meeting with the President at Chequers tomorrow.

Mr Blair has yet to state the Government's position, despite pressure from Labour colleagues to oppose the plan.

Last night, Mr Bush told BBC2's Newsnight: "We have an obligation to our peoples, to freedom, to cast aside old ways of thinking and develop systems that will work."

But Son of Star Wars has raised global fears about its impact on international stability and peace.

Already Russia and China have said they might respond by increasing their nuclear arsenals.

However, our biggest concern in North Yorkshire is the potential impact - literally - on the county if the two military bases are included in Son of Star Wars.

We fear the project poses unacceptable risks to the county's population by potentially making it the number one nuclear target.

We fully accept that there is a vital role for Fylingdales and Menwith Hill, but it is the potential escalation of the arms race that we are concerned about.

In tonight's special edition - which was being delivered to the American Embassy and No 10 - MPs speak of their concerns.

We echo the comments of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis, who said today: "My message to President Bush is: you must think again."

Updated: 16:53 Thursday, February 07, 2002