A DEBATE and a vote on the renewal of the UK's nuclear weapons programme has taken place this evening - with MPs voting overwhelmingly in favour of the government motion to build four new submarines which will carry Trident missiles.

The House of Commons has tonight voted to renew Trident - the UK's nuclear deterrent carried onboard four Barrow-built submarines. The debate started shortly after 4pm and the result was announced at just after 10pm.

REPLAY THE DEBATE LIVE


LIVE TEXT UPDATES FROM THE TRIDENT DEBATE AND VOTE

10.30pm Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has tweeted about the vote


10.26pm Statement just in from BAE Systems Submarines.

Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: “Parliamentary approval for the Successor programme is excellent news for BAE Systems and the hundreds of UK organisations in our supply chain. We now move ahead into the construction phase of the four-boat Successor programme. We enter construction with a highly mature design and significant investment in operating systems, facilities and skills. “We are incredibly proud of the role we play in delivering nuclear submarines to the Royal Navy to help protect the UK’s national security and interests around the world.”

10.15pm RESULT: Motion passed - 472 MPs in favour, 117 MPs against

9.50pm "There can be no more important decision for this house to take... A world without nuclear weapons would be a better world but the threats we face are growing. There are 17,000 nuclear weapons out there. It is the role of government to make sure we can defend ourselves. If these submarines are not delivered on time and to budget, the principal contractors will suffer a penalty as a result," - Michael Fallon (Defence Secretary)

9.40pm "I applaud John Woodcock in speaking up for his constituency...," - Clive Lewis (Labour, Shadow Defence Secretary)

9.30pm "Terrorists who wrap themselves in explosives won't be deterred by Trident," - Patricia Gibson (SNP)

9.25pm "It is nothing short of a national disgrace that charities like Help For Heroes have to exist when we make an endless pot of money available for Trident. It is utterly immoral," - Margaret Ferrier (SNP)

9.20pm A reason to vote against renewal is "the outdated ineffectiveness of a nuclear weapons programme we want to see the back of" - Neil Gray (SNP)

9.15pm "Redeploy shipyard workers into construction or engineering industry" - Tommy Sheppard (SNP).

9pm In just one hour the result of tonight's debate will be announced but MPs continue to battle over their differences about Trident renewal. Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said: "Trident renewal would be a disaster for our planet and our civilisation. It is immoral, it is defunct and we should not be support it."

8.30pm Jamie Reed, Copeland MP, highlighted fragile foreign relations and urged members not the aggravate the situation. As well as mentioning growing threats from Russia, Mr Reed also said that he has received reports that USA congressmen feel that Europe "is not pulling its weight".

He said: "Is this the time, with a weakening European Union, an exasperated USA and a sabre-rattling Russia, for the UK to abandon its nuclear deterrent? No, it is not."

Mr Reed also hit out at Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, for ignoring party policy and voting against renewal, saying it is a "reckless. juvenile and narcissistic move."

8.15pm Ruth Smeeth, MP for Stoke-on-Trent, urged members to vote in favour of the renewal saying it was a "necessary evil" to ensure Britain is not left at the mercy of other nuclear powers.

8pm James Cartlidge, MP for Suffolk South, reminded people of the horrors of the world wars and called for members to secure the nation against that threat. He said: "Nuclear weapons are the most horrific things ever invented by man but they gave us the most beautiful thing - they have given peace to every generation in this house.

7.30pm Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, believes the renewal of Trident is crucial to national security and reminded members of the unpredictability of our world. He said: "Members of the house couldn't have predicted the events of the last three weeks let alone the next four decades."


6.00pm John Woodcock gives a rousing speech in defence of Trident renewal saying he is "proud" to represent Barrow.

He said: "Whatever happens I am proud to stand here today and speak for Barrow, to speak for the town that is steeped in the Great British tradition of shipbuilding and to speak for the men and women who give great service to their country with the incredible work that they do."

5.30pm

Angus Roberston, parliamentary group leader for the Scottish National Party, highlighted the financial cost of the project, saying government was asking members to "sign a blank cheque."

He said: "This is going to be the biggest decision this government will make so I find it very remarkable that we still have no idea whatsoever what the total life cost of Trident really are."

4.20pm Prime Minister, Theresa May, addressed Parliament calling to mind last week's horrific terrorist attack and failed military coup, saying now is the time to renew our "ultimate assurance against attack."

She said: "There is no greater responsibility as Prime Minister than ensuring the safety and security of our people.

"That is why I've made it my first duty in this house to move today's motion so we can get on with the job of renewing an essential part of our national security for generations to come.

"For almost half a century for every hour or every day, Trident has been patrolling the oceans unseen and unknown; fully armed and fully ready as our ultimate assurance against attack."

4.00pm

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's first minister, is rebuking politicians for "playing games" with the vote. She said:

"I think the timing of the vote is political, and on an issue as important as the future of a nuclear deterrent the government should not be playing games with the vote.

"I think it should have been delayed. We have just had a period of perhaps the greatest political chaos and turmoil that we've seen in recent times, and this vote is happening without the proper scrutiny that should have led up to it."

All 54 SNP MPs are expected to vote against the renewal.


2.30pm Union warns Jeremy Corbyn to back Trident renewal to safeguard 45,000 jobs. The Labour leader has been warned that he may face a backlash from Unions if he votes to against the replacement Trident submarines. Head of the GMB trade union, Tim Roache, warned Corbyn that 45,000 highly-skilled jobs were dependent on the project.

1.45pm The House of Commons is made up of 650 MPs who are eligible to vote following today's debate. They are made up of 330 Conservatives, 230 Labour, 54 SNP, 8 Lib Dems and 28 others.

1.15pm Labour deputy leader Tom Watson thinks the vast majority of Labour MPs will vote FOR Trident renewal

1pm Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and key allies, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell, are set to vote against the replacement of the submarine fleet, which carries the Trident missiles. The move will put them at odds with leadership contenders Angela Eagle and Owen Smith and the party's deputy leader Tom Watson, who have all made clear they will back the Government motion on renewal. Meanwhile shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis have said they will abstain, arguing the vote is unnecessary and simply designed to embarrass Labour.

12.10pm Tim Farron is set to vote against the government's motion to renew Trident READ MORE

8.05am Theresa May will tell MPs not to gamble with the safety of British families ahead of a Commons vote on whether to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent.

8am Wages worth £250m to Barrow workers at stake today READ MORE



TRIDENT - THE FACTS

  • The Trident system consists of three elements - submarines, missiles and warheads;
  • Britain currently has four Vanguard submarines capable of storing and firing nuclear missiles. One of the four is always at sea and armed for attack, one is always undergoing maintenance, and the other two are kept in port or used for training;
  • The submarines can carry a maximum of eight missiles and a total of 40 warheads;
  • The UK has a stockpile of 120 nuclear warheads that are operationally available. This is down from 160 in 2010;
  • By the mid-2020s it is intended that the UK's overall nuclear weapon stockpile - including those that are non-operational - will be reduced to no more than 180 warheads;
  • The UK currently possesses around 1% of the total global stockpile of nuclear weapons;
  • The decision to acquire the Trident system was made in 1980 and the first Vanguard nuclear-armed submarine entered service in 1994. They are due to reach the end of their working lives in the late 2020s;
  • The upgrade programme will replace the four Vanguard submarines with a new class of four submarines, known as Successor. The replacement programme was approved by Parliament in 2007 and is not expected to be complete until the early 2030s;
  • The cost of manufacturing the four new submarines is estimated by the government to be £31 billion;
  • An additional £10 billion has been set aside as a contingency;
  • Some £3.9 billion has already been spent on the design of the submarines. According to the House of Commons library, £0.9 billion was also spent on the initial "concept" phase;
  • This brings the total cost of designing and replacing the UK's nuclear-armed submarines to almost £46 billion.