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MPs approve renewal of Trident nuclear deterrent

MPs have voted in favour of renewing the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent by 472 votes to 117 - a majority of 355.

The result is a strong vote of confidence in the weapons system, renewal of which is predicted to cost £31 billion, with a £10 billion contingency fund also set aside.

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Trident renewal 'will speed up Scottish independence'

Renewing Britain's nuclear deterrent system will speed up Scotland becoming an independent country, the SNP's Angus Robertson has warned.

The SNP's Westminster leader said the Scottish people are being ignored by the UK Government, as he reminded MPs renewing Trident is not what constituents want.

Mr Robertson claimed Trident is an an "immoral, obscene and redundant weapons system" in his speech ahead of MPs voting on renewing Trident, which led to applause and cheers by his colleagues in the House of Commons.

He said the party had repeatedly won elections on its "explicitly anti-Trident manifesto".

The people of Scotland have shown repeatedly, clearly and consistently that we are opposed to the renewal of nuclear weapons.

If Scotland is a nation, and Scotland is a nation, it is not a normal situation for the state to totally disregard the wishes of the people, and this Government has a democratic deficit in Scotland, and with today's vote on Trident it's going to get worse, not better.

It will be for the Scottish people to determine whether we are properly protected in Europe and better represented by a Government that we actually elect - at this rate, that day is fast approaching.

– Angus Robertson, SNP's Westminster leader

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