But as MPs debated a Government motion backing plans to build four new submarines to carry the weapons, Labour’s internal battles were played out on the floor of the House of Commons.
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The submarines carrying the nuclear warheads made and repaired in Aldermaston and Burghfield at AWE plc where 4,500 people are employed.
The prime minister gave the blunt reply during a parliamentary debate on the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme, which many suspect was staged by the government for the sole goal of drawing attention to the rift between Jeremy Corbyn and a majority of Labour MPs.
“Whatever you may hear from the opposition frontbench, it is Labour party policy to maintain a nuclear deterrent”. Pressed during questioning in the chamber May was asked if she would sanction the use of nuclear missiles if it meant the deaths of 100,000 innocent men, women and children.
However, Mr Corbyn’s opposition was labelled “juvenile” and “narcissistic” by Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, who said shadow cabinet members who voted against Trident should resign and return to the backbenches because they would be voting against Labour Party policy.
However, the Labour party was rather divided on the issue.
But several of Corbyn’s own MPs challenged him, arguing that Labour Party policy was still to support renewal of the weapons system, as agreed at the party’s conference a year ago.
He added: “I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about global relations”.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said earlier Monday Britain must keep nuclear weapons to “deter any kind of adversary, whether it’s a country or a terrorist group”.
“The people of Scotland have shown repeatedly, clearly and consistently that we are opposed to the renewal of nuclear weapons”, Mr Robertson said.
Tonight’s vote in the House of Commons was 472 for and 117 against, a government majority of 355.
British politics in 2016, ladies and gentlemen: a Tory prime minister approvingly quotes Labour policy, while a Labour leader argues against it.
In her first address to the House of Commons since taking office last week following the European Union referendum, May warned that the threat from nuclear weapons was increasing and said it would be an “act of gross irresponsibility” to abandon the nuclear deterrent.
Conservative MPs accused the SNP of disregarding the 13,000 Scottish jobs that unions say are dependent on the Trident fleet at HMNB Clyde, in Faslane on the west coast of Scotland.
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“What this country needs to do is to recognise that it faces a variety of threats and to ensure we have the capabilities that are necessary and appropriate to deal with each of those threats”, May said before the vote to approve the manufacture of four new nuclear-armed submarines.
