Cable: Fallon's personal attack on Miliband "appalling"

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, on March 9, said Ed Miliband had "stabbed his own brother in the back" to lead Labour and was now "willing to stab the UK in the back" by doing a deal on Trident with the SNP "to become PM".

Lucy Powell said Labour are "absolutely committed" to the renewal of Trident and described Mr Fallon's comments as "absolutely desperate stuff from the Conservative party, who have got nothing to say positive in this election, at all".

Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable said "a proper argument about Trident" is needed and described Mr Fallon's comments as "an appalling way to conduct the argument".

"There are legitimate questions round the political reality as well as the weakness of Labour's position", said Conservative Liam Fox who further challenged Labour's position on Trident.