Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry has said Trident is “essential to the nation’s security” after he voted to renew the nuclear weapons system.

MPs approved replacing the UK’s nuclear warhead-carrying submarines by an overwhelming 472 votes to 117 in the House of Commons yesterday.

The Vanguard ballistic missile submarines, which carry Britain’s 225 nuclear warheads and rotate on continuous secret deployments at sea, will now be replaced by four Successor-class boats at an estimated cost of £31bn.

Mr Berry said: “In an uncertain world where unstable regimes possess or are seeking to develop nuclear weapons, our nuclear deterrent is essential to the nation’s security and that of our NATO allies.

“This is no time for the UK to disarm unilaterally, and once unilateral disarmament has been ruled out, there is no point in the UK having anything other than an effective nuclear deterrent.”

“The only realistic option for an effective nuclear deterrent in the UK is to renew trident.”

Prime Minister Theresa May told the Commons without hesitation that she would authorise a nuclear strike if necessary and that it would be an “act of gross irresponsibility” to scrap the weapons.

Taking to the despatch box for the first time, she said the nuclear threat facing Britain has “increased”.

Only one Conservative Party member, Reigate MP Crispin Blunt, voted against renewal, while 322 supported the motion.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Commons that he does “not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about international relations”, though the Labour Party was split over the vote. 

The first of the Successors is expected to enter service in 2028, 35 years after the Vanguards, each manned by a crew of 135 submariners, began their role.