LIB Dem leader and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is expected to vote against the government's motion to renew the nuclear weapons programme in its current form.

Mr Farron is due to vote against the Conservative's motion to replace the four Vanguard-class submarines tonight.

It is understood Mr Farron will table an amendment to the government's bill, calling for a "step down the nuclear ladder".

He argues that there is no need to have a continuous at-sea deterrent and that the programme could be maintained using three boats, instead of four.

Mr Farron said: “The Lib Dems are proposing an alternative to the government’s policy of like-for-like replacement of Trident.

“Under our plans, Britain would not unilaterally disarm, so would still use submarines manufactured in Barrow.

“We would, however, take one of the most significant steps down the nuclear ladder our country has taken in the last half century – by removing ‘continuous at sea deterrence’ and therefore saving the cost of one submarine.

"Having submarines patrolling the high seas 24/7, 365 days a year does not help us to tackle the challenges that we face in the 21st century, especially in a time when our defence budget is so thinly stretched.”

READ MORE: Wages worth £250m to Barrow residents at stake in historic vote

Today's debate is due to start at around 2.30pm with a vote to take place by 10pm.

READ MORE: Live coverage and footage from the Trident debate and vote

How are our other MPs likely to vote?

John Woodcock, Barrow and Furness (Labour) - IN FAVOUR

Jamie Reed, Copeland (Labour) - IN FAVOUR

John Stevenson, Carlisle (Conservative) - IN FAVOUR

Sue Hayman, Workington (Labour) - ABSENT FROM LAST THREE VOTES ON TRIDENT

Rory Stewart, Penrith (Conservative) - IN FAVOUR

(Barrow-born) Cat Smith, Lancaster and Fleetwood (Labour) - ABSTAINED FROM LAST TRIDENT VOTES