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We can't "simply wish away" threats that exist now and may emerge up until the 2050s, Michael Fallon says. There is "no alternative" to round-the-clock nuclear deterrent, he says "if we accept that our enemies work nights, work weekends".

He may be advocating abstention in this vote, but Jeremy Corbyn voted against Trident renewal when the SNP last held a debate on the issue, in January.

Then a humble backbencher, Mr Corbyn felt so strongly he left the funeral of close friend, Mike Marqusee, to be in the Commons for the vote, along with John McDonnell.

Mr Corbyn told MPs: "When I informed the massive audience that we were leaving to come to vote against Trident, they burst into rapturous applause."

House of Commons
Parliament

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is on his feet in the Commons, attempting to exploit divisions within the Labour Party on the future of Trident. He says shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle - who backs renewal - has been "admirably clear" in opposing party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and describes the controversial appointment of Ken Livingstone as joint chair of Labour's defence review as "like appointing an arsonist as deputy chief fire officer".

Ms Eagle has been absent from this Commons debate so far.

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Image source, Getty Images

Brendan O'Hara tells MPs it's difficult to conceive of any situation where the UK would fire Trident without prior US approval. Given that Donald Trump could be president in 18 months' time, he says, he questions whether anyone "can seriously think Trident makes the world a safer place".

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Invoking an old Scottish saying to attack Trident, the SNP's Brendan O'Hara says: "We are acting as having a fur coat and nae knickers".

Carole Walker
Political correspondent

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said it is "morally unacceptable to outsource action" against IS in Syria which he said is essential to protecting the UK and its citizens around the world.  

He said that is why the government is seeking consensus to take action against the extremists in Raqaa.

Mr Hammond told the Commons there is no doubt the head of what he called this "multi-tentacled monster" is in Raqaa in Syria.  

He said "we will not destroy it by cutting off its limbs" he said it could only be destroyed by going for its head and its heart which was in Raqaa.

Labour MP Alan Johnson admitted Jeremy Corbyn could have done better in his response to yesterday's defence spending review...

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Intervening, Green MP Caroline Lucas argues that nuclear weapons make the UK "less safe" as it sends a message to other countries that they are needed to protect a country and so drives, rather than counters, proliferation.

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"Trident is not a military weapon. Trident is a political weapon... which can never, and will never be used," Brendan O'Hara says, and criticises the money being spent on it.

But former Conservative Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox contends that Trident is being used "every day", as a deterrent.

"The fact it is never fired in anger is a symbol of its success," Mr Fox tells the SNP defence spokesman, who in turn says he doesn't agree "at all".

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Speaker John Bercow has to remind MPs that intervention should be "extremely brief". Resuming his speech, the SNP's Brendan O'Hara says that in saying no to Trident the party is "not saying no to Faslane (the naval base where the submarines are based)" - which prompts laughter from the government and Labour benches. Faslane "will have a bright, non-nuclear future", continues Mr O'Hara.

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"Being anti-Trident can actually be a vote-winner," the SNP defence spokesman says to the Labour benches, highlighting the party's general election success in Scotland in May.

He says there is an "established consensus" among Scottish political parties against Trident but adds that the Conservative government in Westminster, which has one MP in Scotland, "insists it has the right to foist on Scotland weapons of mass destruction which Scotland has said we do not want"

There is "no moral case" for a state to hold nuclear weapons, he argues.

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Back to the House of Commons now, where the SNP's Brendan O'Hara MP is opening the opposition day debate on Trident. The party's motion - which would not be binding on the government - says Britain's nuclear deterrent should not be renewed.

The party's defence spokesman said the SNP felt there was a degree of "hope" of a serious opposition to Trident when unilateralist Jeremy Corbyn was elected as Labour leader.

The Daily Politics

Alan Johnson and Left Unity spokesman Simon Hardy come to verbal blows on the Daily Politics.

Mr Hardy suggests Labour has become "a shadow" of the Conservative Party and that Jeremy Corbyn is Labour's "best hope" of turning Labour around.

Mr Johnson responds: "This is the kind of rubbish I've heard spouted all my political life. This guy needs to be in a different political party." He says Mr Hardy "despises" Labour and has "no place" in the party. But Mr Hardy rejects the claims.

The Left Unity spokesman tells the Labour MP he's "bitter" and is being "a bit rude". "Ooh my goodness", Mr Johnson says in response.

The Daily Politics

Alan Johnson says Corbyn believes very strongly in certain issues "and he's not going to change".

Put to him that the Labour benches were largely deserted during his speech yesterday, Mr Johnson suggests Mr Corbyn may not have been expecting to respond to the statement and that it would have been the shadow defence secretary.