Labour MP John Cryer to vote against Trident missile renewal

Labour MP Mr Cryer announced on Twitter this afternoon he would not support moves to renew the missile programme during a parliamentary vote this evening (Monday, July 18).

Some people have been in touch about the Trident vote tonight. I will be voting against the renewal of Trident later this evening.

— John Cryer (@JohnCryerMP) 18 July 2016

His party is expected to split three ways for the vote, with some MPs supporting the government’s motion to extend the programme, some voting against it and a smaller number abstaining.

MPs must decide whether to replace the ageing Vanguard submarines carrying Trident missiles, which will be obsolete by the end of the decade.

During a debate in the Commons today, Prime Minister Theresa May claimed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's opposition to maintaining Britain’s nuclear deterrent is "quite wrong".

In a swipe at Mr Corbyn, she said: "Some people suggest to us that we should actually be removing our nuclear deterrent.

“This has been a vital part of our national security and defence for nearly half-a-century now and it would be quite wrong for us to go down that particular path."

She also highlighted Labour's manifesto commitment to maintaining the continuous-at-sea deterrent.

The head of the GMB trade union, Tim Roache, also insisted Mr Corbyn should abide by existing Labour Party policy to back Trident renewal.

He warned that 45,000 jobs around the country, many of them highly skilled, were dependent on the programme going ahead.

Mr Roache, who supported Mr Corbyn as leader, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "The Labour Party have a clear policy. The clear policy is that Labour will uphold an at-sea deterrent.

"I would expect therefore all Labour MPs, including the leader of the Labour Party - in fact, especially the leader of the Labour Party - to uphold that current policy."