Non-renewal of Trident ‘irresponsible’, says Theresa May

Theresa May has told MPs debating Britain's nuclear deterrent that she would be prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that would kill 100,000 men, women and children.

Speaking during her first appearance at the despatch box as prime minister, Mrs May said it would be irresponsible not to renew the four nuclear-armed submarines which take turns to patrol the North Atlantic.

“Once nuclear weapons have been given up it is almost impossible to get them back. You could not develop a deterrent fast enough to respond to a new and unforeseen nuclear threat. It would be an act of gross irresponsibility to lose the ability to meet such threats by disregarding the ultimate insurance,” she said.

Corbyn’s opposition

As Mrs May spoke, her predecessor David Cameron watched from the backbenches, while Labour MPs across the aisle prepared to vote three different ways on the motion to renew the Trident nuclear programme.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gave his MPs a free vote but he said he would vote against renewal and he ruled out ever launching a nuclear attack as prime minister.

“I would not take a decision that kills millions of innocent people. I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about international relations,” he said.

Labour’s foreign and defence spokespersons said they would abstain on the vote but numerous backbench Labour MPs took to the floor to criticise their leader’s stance.

John Woodcock, who supports Trident, said his party's front bench had abdicated responsibility by allowing a free vote on so important an issue.

“What Labour’s current front bench are doing is not principled. It shows contempt for the public, for party members and often in what they say for the truth,” he said.

Defence commitments

"This situation would have been abhorrent even to Labour's last great unilateralist, Michael Foot, a man who, for all his shortcomings as a leader, would never have allowed our party to stand directionless in the face of such an important question."

Mrs May cited Britain’s responsibility to help defend its European allies in support of renewing Trident, adding that leaving the EU did not mean any retreat from international defence and security commitments.

The prime minister will meet chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin tomorrow and President François Hollande in Paris on Thursday.

Downing Street said Mrs May's talks in Berlin offered "an opportunity to discuss the bilateral relationship, co-operation on a range of global challenges, and of course how the UK and Germany can work together as the UK prepares to leave the EU".

The prime minister’s meeting with Mr Hollande will also cover Brexit, and counter-terrorism co-operation in the wake of last week’s attack in Nice.

EU leaders have said they will not conduct substantive negotiations about Brexit until Britain invokes article 50 of the EU Treaty, which triggers two years of formal exit talks.