Mebyon Kernow has condemned the majority of members of the three largest Westminster parties for failing to vote against the replacement of Trident nuclear weapons system.

In Tuesday’s House of Commons opposition debate secured by the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, the motion – That this house believes that Trident should not be renewed – was defeated by 364 votes to 35.

MK leader Cllr Dick Cole, who has been a member of CND for over twenty years, said: “It is ridiculous that MPs want to spend billions of pounds renewing the Trident nuclear missile system, at the same time that they are slashing funding for vital public services.

“We believe that it is morally wrong to hold or renew such weapons of mass destruction, as well as being financially disastrous. There is no rationale for the retention, still less the renewal, of the British nuclear arsenal and it is our view that it should be disarmed immediately.”

Speaking prior to the debate, CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson had said: "At a cost of more than £100 billion, it’s no surprise that Trident is set to play a huge part in the general election in May.

"The public rightly wants to know where parliamentary candidates stand. If an MP thinks we should squander billions on this redundant white elephant, while the NHS is facing a funding crisis, then so be it, but they should be clear about it now and face the consequences come election time.