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British lawmakers back renewal of Trident nuclear deterrent
The motion is nearly certain to pass, as many Labour lawmakers are expected to back the Conservative government despite the opposition of their leader Jeremy Corbyn, and members of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
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A total of 47 Labour members voted against renewal of the nuclear weapons system, while others abstained.
Labour MPs were subject to a free vote, but leader Jeremy Corbyn declared he would oppose the motion – a stance which led to strong criticism from some of his backbenchers.
Prime Minister Theresa May will open the debate in her first address to Parliament since taking office last week.
Asked if she was “personally prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that can kill a hundred thousand innocent men, women and children”, Mrs May replied: “Yes”.
“The whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to use it”.
Britain needed to retain a nuclear deterrent which had been an insurance policy for almost 50 years, May said.
It is estimated to cost about £31billion, and experts believe the nuclear missiles are integral to defending the country.
He added: “What is the threat that we are facing that over a million people’s deaths actually deters?”
“I would not take a decision that kills millions of people, I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about dealing with worldwide relations”, said Corbyn, who had indicated his lawmakers, could vote freely on Trident. May, however, said that putting aside the deterrent would be a “dereliction of duty” for Britain.
This may be food for thought for influential union leaders, such as Unite the Union’s Len McCluskey, who thus far have supported Corbyn’s leadership of the party.
Since 1989, it has been the official policy of the Labour Party to support the retention of Trident, to which Jeremy Corbyn, as a back bench MP, was consistently opposed.
A nuclear submarine is seen at the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane, Scotland, Britain August 31, 2015.
Many said they would be voting with the government.
MP Margaret Ferrier of the SNP warned that the United Kingdom government’s disregard of Scotland’s feelings about Trident is pushing the country further away from London.
The Conservative politician was among 472 MPs who voted for upgrading the UK’s nuclear weapons system at a cost of up to £40bn.
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The replacement of the four Vanguard submarines that carry Trident missiles was backed by an overwhelming majority of MPs after several hours of debate, during which Theresa May warned them not to take a “reckless gamble” with the country’s security.