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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Jon Stone, Louis Cheslaw

Politics live: Theresa May's first appearance at the Commons as Prime Minister in Trident debate

Theresa May is to make her first appearance in the House of Commons at a debate about the future of the Trident nuclear weapons system.

The latest updates are:

• Theresa May warns threat of nuclear attack has increased
Caroline Lucas warns of nuclear weapons dangers
• At what price will the vote deciding Trident's future be won?

MPs will on Monday vote on whether to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system, in what will be Theresa May's first statement as Prime Minister.

The vote is almost certain to pass, with nearly Conservatives backing the motion and Labour divided on the issue.

Party leader Jeremy Corbyn opposes building another nuclear weapons system, but has given his party a free vote on the issue.

The Scottish National Party opposes the renewal of Trident and has called for the vote to be delayed to allow for "proper scrutiny" of the process.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas also opposes renewal. Writing for the Independent ahead of the debate, she emphasised that nuclear weapons had already been launched 13 times.

"It is my firm view, based on the best available evidence, that renewing Trident will not only fail to improve Britain’s security, but in fact poses significant dangers to us," she wrote.

Opening the debate, Ms May will say: "We cannot abandon our ultimate safeguard out of misplaced idealism. That would be a reckless gamble."

"The nuclear threat has not gone away. If anything, it has increased.”

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