The debate acted as a unifying event for the Conservatives, as MPs rallied around the new prime minister.
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A debate on Monday lasting nearly six hours saw Theresa May made her first despatch box appearance as Prime Minister in which she said it would be a “an act of gross irresponsibility” for the United Kingdom to scrap its nuclear weapons and accused opponents of the UK’s Trident missile system of being “the first to defend the country’s enemies”.
Jeremy Corbyn was among the 47 Labour MPs who objected to the motion.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, responded to May, saying that he does not “believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about worldwide relations”.
May surprised some in parliament Monday when asked if she would be capable and prepared to order a nuclear strike that would result in an vast loss of life.
MPs like Benn and Woodcock are trying to reach out to Labour members to persuade them that Labour and Corbyn are increasingly two different things and that the Labour leader doesn’t represent the party, its MPs, its members or its policy.
“In times of imposed austerity, the GBP205 billion which would be spent on a Trident replacement over the next 30 years could be far, far more effectively used on improving healthcare, childcare, education and building a better future for our children”, it said.
She also highlighted Labour’s manifesto commitment to maintaining the continuous-at-sea deterrent.
In an outspoken attack, Copeland MP Jamie Reed accused Mr Corbyn of being determined to lead the party to defeat at the next election.
The Scottish National Party – which opposes the renewal – had called for the vote to be delayed to allow “proper scrutiny”.
Whether to renew Britain’s nuclear deterrent programme has occupied Labour policy for decades with strong anti-nuclear defence sentiment within the party.
It is an operational system of four Vanguard-class submarine, all armed with Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles, which can deliver thermonuclear warheads from multiple independently-targetable re-entry vehicles.
“We can not outsource the grave responsibility we shoulder for keeping our people safe”, she will say, according to extracts released in advance of the afternoon debate. His response was that there is a review of Labour defence policy being carried out by the newly appointed Shadow Defence Secretary, Clive Lewis.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reiterated his opposition to the potential use of the weapons – one of the key elements of the doctrine of nuclear deterrence.
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“This just shows people like Len McCluskey are so focused on keeping Corbyn they are blind to damage his policies would do to the working people and security of this country”.
