‘Why?’: Sky News Host Laughs As Squirming Tory Minister Defends ‘Complete Confidence’ In Nuclear Capability After Second Missile Test Fail

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins awkwardly defended the government’s “complete confidence” in the nation’s nuclear capability as Sky News host Kay Burley pressed her on the missile that “plopped” into sea during a failed test launch.

The failed test occurred during an exercise last month, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps present on HMS Vanguard to witness the event. A report by The Sun detailed that the Trident 2 missile’s first stage boosters failed to ignite after being propelled into the air, a critical error that led to the missile’s premature descent into the ocean.

This incident follows a similar failure in 2016 when a Trident missile veered off course and self-destructed after being launched from HMS Vengeance, another of the UK’s four submarines tasked with patrolling the oceans to maintain the nuclear deterrent.

Burley began: “Front pages of a couple of the papers this morning, the failure of a British nuclear weapons test with the Defence Secretary on board at the time. It was supposed to go something like, I think, three and a half thousand miles. It plopped at the side of the submarine. How embarrassing.”

“Well, we have complete confidence in the system,” a straight-faced Atkins replied.

“Why?” the host quipped, laughing.

Atkins continued: “Well, I’m informed, and you’ll appreciate we are constrained by national security considerations here, but I am informed and I accept that that was an anomaly… that was very event-specific. It has been corrected.”

“Second time,” Burley said.

“We have complete confidence in the system,” the secretary smiled.

Atkins refused to expand on the matter, citing “national security” concerns, despite prompting.

Burley rounded to repeat Atkins initial statement: “Despite twice on the bounce this happening, it happened previously as well, I believe, you have full confidence in our nuclear deterrent?”

“Very much so, I do…”

The host pressed again: “Even though that’s happened twice on the bounce?”

The secretary continued: “Because this, as I say, it’s been identified as an anomaly, it was event-specific. and it has been sorted.”

“What does that mean?” Burley asked.

Atkins replied: “Well, that is the Ministry of Defence’s own words.”