>source is anti-nuclear cranks

From the House of Commons

Decision making on the use of British nuclear weapons is a sovereign matter for the UK. There is no requirement to gain the approval of the United States or other NATO allies for their use and only the Prime Minister can authorise an instruction to fire.

From the UK defence journal

Contrary to the belief that the US can prevent the UK from using Trident missiles or that the US controls the system's targeting, the UK retains full operational command. The Trident missiles utilise a stellar sighting guidance system and inertial navigation, independent of GPS, negating the possibility of external "shutdown".

I believe what Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) have to say.

In reality;

>The current UK Trident warheads can also be launched by a submarine commander with the support of his crew without any code being transmitted from the chain of command.

>The British missiles are controlled through the Royal Navy chain of command all the way up to the Prime Minister. In reality the Prime Minister would make the launch decision in concert with whatever was left of the British government.

>The key point here is that the British deterrent does not have permissive action link control, which means it does not rely on the use of codes to fire the system.

This is more terrifying;

>The UK's Trident fleet relies purely on military discipline to prevent a launch.

>compromises rather than asserts

It's a bit neutral. It's like little brother holding big bro's sword.