UK: MPs vote to renew Trident weapons system
July 19, 2016
The House of Commons has backed the renewal of the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system by 472 votes to 117. The MPs’ vote approves the manufacture of four replacement submarines at a current estimated cost of £31bn. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told MPs nuclear threats were growing around the world and Trident “puts doubts in the minds of our adversaries”. The UK Trident fleet, based at HMNB Clyde, in Faslane, has four submarines that each carry up to eight Trident missiles. The missiles can be fitted with a number of warheads, which can be directed at different targets.
Theresa May has told MPs it would be “an act of gross irresponsibility” for the UK to abandon its nuclear weapons. The British Prime Minister accused critics of the Trident system of being “the first to defend the country’s enemies“.