Having announced preliminary plans to reduce the number of nuclear submarines from four to three, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has faced criticism for maintaining any at all.

The UK’s present complement of four Vanguard class nuclear-armed submarines, based at Faslane naval base near Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland, will start reaching the end of their operational lifetimes in the next ten years, prompting the government to reach a decision regarding their replacement.

Morag Balfour, vice chair of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), told The Journal: “I find myself somewhat underwhelmed by Gordon Brown's plan to limit Trident's replacement to three boats. When that joyous day comes, we will still retain enough fire-power to obliterate a nation or two.

“Mr Brown must do better than this, for all our sakes. We can't afford these weapons morally, legally or economically.”

During a speach made at the UN General Assembly in New York last week, Mr Brown said his proposal was a "grand global bargain between nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapons states".

Prime Minister Brown said: “All nuclear weapons states must reciprocally play their part in reducing nuclear weapons as part of an agreement by non nuclear states to renounce them.

“This is exactly what the Non-Proliferation Treaty intended. In line with maintaining our nuclear deterrent I have asked our national security committee to report to me on the potential future reduction of our nuclear weapon submarines from four to three.”

There have been further reports that the government will also consider reducing the number of nuclear warheads before the non-proliferation treaty conference in May next year. The Guardian has reported that officials are actively considering reducing its 160 operationally available warheads when the present system is replaced.

Anti-nuclear and peace campaigners welcomed the move, but were disappointed that an opportunity for a larger step towards full disarmament seems to have been missed.

In a response published on their website, Kate Hudson, chair of the CND warned: “The reality is that if the nuclear weapons states maintain and rearm their nuclear weapons, this will encourage other states to acquire nuclear weapons.”