Britain’s nuclear weapons fiasco is a nightmare for Rachel Reeves

Trident gobbles up a significant share of our defence budget, leaving the share devoted to troops and guns far below the 2pc Nato baseline.

Many have warned that costs are spiralling out of control, piling more pressure on a Chancellor who is already struggling to balance the books.

The estimated cost of renewing the submarines is 31bn, compared with 25bn when the project was still on paper in 2011 .

Just two of MoD 's 49 major defence projects are currently deemed to be on time and on budget.

Majority are either deemed unfixable’ as currently stands or feasible’ with significant issues’ Government puts the blame on several factors, including inflation and “challenging net zero targets”.

That means tough choices in Elwood ’s mind. “You have tell the British people that s--- is coming over the hill, we’ve got to get ready, and then the British people will say, oh my God! I’m happy for you to increase my taxes what I don’t want to do is start having to learn Russian .’” Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day 's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week..