1st LD: British lawmakers agree to renew Trident nuclear system

British lawmakers on Monday agreed by 472 votes to 117 to replace the country's submarine-based Trident nuclear missile system, a multi-billion pound project to maintain the country's military status after its vote to leave the European Union.

Theresa May, making her first appearance in parliament as prime minister, led the debate to pave the way for the building of four nuclear ballistic submarines, its Trident system.

The 54-billion-U.S.dollar fleet will be built at a shipyard at Barrow in northern England to replace its ageing fleet of nuclear submarines.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn voted against the Trident program, even though many of his lawmakers supported the Trident program. There was also opposition from Scottish National Party politicians opposed to the nuclear submarines being based at the Faslane base on the Clyde in Scotland.

May earlier told lawmakers it would be an act of gross irresponsibility for Britain to abandon its nuclear weapons. Pressed during questioning in the chamber May was asked if she would sanction the use of nuclear missiles if it meant the deaths of 100,000 innocent men, women and children. She responded with an emphatic Yes. May told a packed chamber that Britain cannot afford to relax its guard. Endit