This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/uk/351967-trident-nuclear-submarines-renewal/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
British lawmakers vote to renew Trident nuclear program | British lawmakers vote to renew Trident nuclear program |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The UK Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of renewing Trident, the aging Scotland-based fleet of four nuclear submarines, despite strong opposition from Labour and the Scottish National Party. | The UK Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of renewing Trident, the aging Scotland-based fleet of four nuclear submarines, despite strong opposition from Labour and the Scottish National Party. |
Lawmakers backed Trident’s renewal 472 votes to the 117 who voted against maintaining the costly nuclear deterrent. | Lawmakers backed Trident’s renewal 472 votes to the 117 who voted against maintaining the costly nuclear deterrent. |
READ MORE: What’s at stake as British Parliament votes on the future of Trident nuclear weapons? | READ MORE: What’s at stake as British Parliament votes on the future of Trident nuclear weapons? |
Parliament held a heated debate on the issue Monday afternoon, during which Scottish National party MPs and Labour leader Jerermy Corbyn spoke out against Trident’s renewal. | |
British PM Theresa May showed strong support for the deterrent program, confirming that if necessary she would approve a nuclear strike resulting in the mass loss of lives. May responded with a firm “yes” after SNP’s George Kerevan if she was “personally prepared to authorize a nuclear strike that can kill 100,000 innocent men, women and children?” | |
“I have to say to the honorable gentleman, the whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to use it, unlike some suggestions that we could have a deterrent but not actually be willing to use it, which seem to come from the Labour party frontbench.” | |
May’s stance was met by strong criticism from the opposition who said there was no need for a deterrent that is powerful enough to kill thousands of people. | |
“What is the threat we are facing that a million people’s deaths would actually deter?” Corbyn said adding that he “would not take a decision that kills millions of innocent people.” May, however, said that putting aside the deterrent would be a “dereliction of duty” for Britain. |