New Prime Minister Theresa May has opened a Commons debate on Trident ahead of a vote on the UK's nuclear weapons programme on Monday evening.

The Vanguard-class submarines, based at Faslane on the River Clyde, are due to be replaced, with parliament voting to either renew or disarm Trident.

MPs are expected to vote at around 10pm on Monday.

The £40bn construction of a new fleet, Successor, could begin this year and be operational by 2028 while the current fleet will be phased out by 2032.

The UK Government is expected to win the vote for the renewal of the Trident II D-5 ballistic nuclear missiles, with the Labour party split with leader Jeremy Corbyn allowing a free vote on the issue.

Speaking in the debate, the Prime Minister said: "We cannot outsource the grave responsibility we shoulder for keeping our people safe. And we cannot abandon our ultimate safeguard out of misplaced idealism.

"That would be a reckless gamble: a gamble that would enfeeble our allies and embolden our enemies.

"A gamble with the safety and security of families in Britain that we must never be prepared to take.

"We have waited long enough, it is time to get on with building our next generation of nuclear deterrent."

Ms May added that the renewal would increase jobs in Scotland, with the number set to rise to over 8000.

Also, when asked by SNP MP George Kereven if she "is prepared to authorise a strike that could kill 100,000 innocent men, women and children", the Prime Minister replied "yes".

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition, said: "The funds involved in Trident renewal are massive. We must also consider the complex both moral and strategic issues of our country possessing weapons of mass destruction.

"There is also a question of its utility. Do these weapons of mass destruction, for that is what they are, act as deterrents to what we face and is that deterrent credible?"

He added: "The people of Scotland have rejected Trident being based on the Faslane naval base on Clyde, the SNP government have rejected it and so have Scottish Labour.

"We're talking about 40 warheads each one with the capactity to kill more than one million people.

"The threat of mass murder is not a legitimate way of going about international relations."

The SNP's 54 MPs will vote against the renewal of the deterrent based at Faslane on the Clyde after earlier calling for the vote to be delayed. They will be joined by the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "SNP MPs will vote against the renewal of Trident and I hope Labour MPs will do the same.

"I think it would be unforgivable if we have a Labour Party that splits perhaps three ways on this, instead of taking a principled decision against the renewal of Trident and against the spending of perhaps £200bn on weapons that we know can never be used, that are not the right way to defend us in the modern world.

"I think it would be unforgivable if the principal opposition party didn't provide real opposition today."