BARROW and Furness MP John Woodcock today expressed his satisfaction as the House of Commons decisively voted to back the renewal of the nuclear deterrent by 330 votes to 64.

The vote had been called after the Scottish National Party tabled a motion called for the scrapping of the Successor programme. Although the vote was not binding, the result gave an indication of the likely outcome of the Main Gate vote next year.

Crucially, having the backing of 330 MPs means that there is a clear majority in favour of renewal as more than half of all MPs turned up to vote down the SNP motion.

Before the debate Mr Woodcock had lobbied his colleagues with submarine-shaped leaflets setting out the case for renewal and refuting the SNP ‘red herrings’ about Trident.

In a lively debate in the House of Commons Mr Woodcock took on all comers as he made the case for Trident based on national security and the economic benefits it brings to Cumbria.

Mr Woodcock frequently clashed with SNP MPs who attempted to shout him down and appealed to the Speaker to try to prevent the Barrow MP from speaking.

Concluding his speech, Mr Woodcock made the point that the renewal of Trident is not in doubt and that the SNP were merely posturing for political advantage: “The question is not whether we do, or do not, go ahead with Trident, because the votes on that are absolutely nailed on.

This will go past the point of no return. The real question exposed in this debate is: in which SNP constituency—which place in Scotland—will the nuclear toxic waste, which the SNP has admitted it will take, go?”

Mr Woodcock’s speech won praise from across the House, with Conservative MP Mark Menzies applauding him as “a shining example of what it means to stand up for one’s constituents”.

Mr Woodcock’s confidence was vindicated by the result of the vote, with barely any support for the SNP. Speaking after the vote Mr Woodcock said: “It is good this vote has helped signal the cast-iron majority in parliament to put the programme beyond the point of no return.

I am looking forward to doing the right thing for Barrow and its superb workforce when the main gate vote comes and I hope the SNP will now stop their posturing about this vital component of our national security”.