Barrow MP Simon Fell has welcomed the Government’s decision to drastically increase the country’s nuclear warheads stockpile.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the number of warheads in the UK will be increasing by 40 per cent.

Mr Johnson revealed in the House of Commons that the Government’s Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy will involve increasing the UK’s stockpile from 180 to 260 nuclear warheads.

According to Mr Fell, this rise in the nuclear arsenal is further proof of the Government’s commitment to keeping the UK safe.

He said: “Removing the cap on the nuclear deterrent shows those who wish us harm our resolve in keeping the United Kingdom and our NATO allies safe.

"This Government has a long and proud record of supporting and investing in the ultimate grantee of our nation’s security – a stark contrast to the Labour Party, whose deputy leader and shadow foreign secretary both voted to scrap it recently.”

Thousands of jobs in Barrow are tied to the creation of Trident submarines at BAE Systems.

Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister said: “Our international policy is a vital instrument for fulfilling this Government’s vision of uniting and levelling up across our country, reinforcing the union and securing Britain’s place as a science superpower and a hub of innovation and research.”

However, the Nuclear Information Project said the £10bn rearmament goes against UK’s adherence to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The review also stated that Russia was the ‘most acute threat’ to UK security.

However, shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy has accused the Government of hypocrisy.

She said: “The Government says Russia is the No1 threat to our security but it has refused to implement any of the recommendations of the Russia report, damaged relations with our NATO partners in Europe and its mismanagement of the defence budget has undermined the foundations of our defences.

“There is a yawning chasm between the Government’s words and its actions.

"It wants to uphold international law but repeatedly breaks it.

"It lauds the importance of conflict resolution and counter-terrorism while cutting those programmes in Syria and Iraq.

"It preaches peace in Yemen but sells arms to Saudi.

"It wants to build alliances but antagonises our allies.

"It wants to lead on climate change but has no plan for net zero.”