MOSCOW (Sputnik) — UK Members of Parliament are discussing the approval of the construction of four new Trident nuclear missile submarines. Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Theresa May expressed confidence that many lawmakers would back the renewal.
According to the Evening Standard, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is holding an "emergency protest" at the Parliament Square, where several peace activists hold speeches and participants hold fabric banners with the inscription "No Trident", "Scotland Says Trident No More" and "Scrap Trident."
Nuclear weapons have catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Powerful @Medact protest at Parliament #stoptrident pic.twitter.com/VAg1QENCaK
— ICAN UK (@ICAN_UK) July 18, 2016
Earlier in the day, May said that confronting terrorism and renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent is not a choice in the face of a "variety" of threats facing the country. May also added she was personally prepared to authorize a nuclear strike if need be.
Earlier on Monday, CND published a call for the protest stating that Trident was a militarily useless weapon of mass destruction. It also announced that Stop Trident actions were set to take place across the country on the day of the vote.
90% of nurses & doctors died in #Hiroshima. @Medact protest outside Westminster as MPs debate #Trident #healthpeace pic.twitter.com/DLFPpgDvO0
— ICAN UK (@ICAN_UK) July 18, 2016
The vote of the UK Parliament is expected upon the end of discussions.
