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Trident debate live: May 'wouldn't hesitate' to fire nuclear weapons | Trident debate live: May 'wouldn't hesitate' to fire nuclear weapons |
(35 minutes later) | |
Theresa May has made her first appearance in the House of Commons at a debate about the future of the Trident nuclear weapons system. | Theresa May has made her first appearance in the House of Commons at a debate about the future of the Trident nuclear weapons system. |
The latest updates are: | The latest updates are: |
MPs are debating and will vote on whether to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system this afternoon, in what will be Theresa May's first statement as Prime Minister. | |
The vote is almost certain to pass, with nearly all Conservatives backing the motion and The Labour Party divided on the issue. | |
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran CND campaigner, opposes building another nuclear weapons system, but under pressure has given his party a free vote on the issue. | |
The Liberal Democrats support the principle of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, but call for an end to continuous-at-sea capabilities, terming it “a step down the nuclear ladder” to save money. | |
The Scottish National Party opposes the renewal of Trident and has called for the vote to be delayed to allow for "proper scrutiny" of the process. | The Scottish National Party opposes the renewal of Trident and has called for the vote to be delayed to allow for "proper scrutiny" of the process. |
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas also opposes renewal. Writing for the Independent ahead of the debate, she emphasised that nuclear weapons had already been launched 13 times. | |
"It is my firm view, based on the best available evidence, that renewing Trident will not only fail to improve Britain’s security, but in fact poses significant dangers to us," she wrote. | "It is my firm view, based on the best available evidence, that renewing Trident will not only fail to improve Britain’s security, but in fact poses significant dangers to us," she wrote. |
Opening the debate, Ms May will say: "We cannot abandon our ultimate safeguard out of misplaced idealism. That would be a reckless gamble." | Opening the debate, Ms May will say: "We cannot abandon our ultimate safeguard out of misplaced idealism. That would be a reckless gamble." |
"The nuclear threat has not gone away. If anything, it has increased.” | "The nuclear threat has not gone away. If anything, it has increased.” |