A Glasgow councillor who once fired a Trident missile said nuclear weapons are “despicable” and shouldn’t be renewed.

Feargal Dalton, SNP councillor for Partick West, fired the missile on a test off the coast of Florida in 2009 and was prepared to do it for real if ordered.

The councillor was in Westminster on Monday to hear the debate on renewing Trident to support his wife, Carol Monaghan, the SNP MP for Glasgow North West who voted against renewal with his full backing.

Mr Dalton said when he was serving in the Royal Navy he would drive Carol to CND rallies but she was fully supportive of his role then, as he is of hers now.

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Mr Dalton, who served as a Weapons Engineering Officer during 17 years in the Royal Navy, said: “When we did the test firing, it’s the same as during training exercises. The only difference was there was a shudder through the submarine, because the missile was actually leaving the vessel.”

He said he was not in favour of nuclear weapons and didn’t join to work in nuclear weapons but had he been ordered to pull the trigger he would have.

By the time that order is given, he said it is too late.

He said: “We often spoke about it, killing innocent people. The chances are by then innocent people in the UK would have been wiped out.

“We wouldn’t be in a good place and we would be taken out soon after because as soon as we launch our position is given away. It would be a terrible place if it came to that where the Prime Minister give the order.”

Mr Dalton listened to much of the debate and found some of the arguments patronising.

He said the jobs argument didn’t stack up.

He said: “Only some parts of Faslane are supporting Trident, those who deliver Trident emergency support.

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“I am an electrical engineer, we are all highly skilled and have no problem finding work. I don’t need an elaborate job creation scheme. Make another argument.”

He understood Theresa May’s position, stating she would launch a strike knowing it would likely kill hundreds of thousands of people.

He said: “For the credibility of a nuclear deterrent you have to be seen to have the intent to use it.

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“Only she, and perhaps her husband, knows if she actually would.”

Instead of spending billions on nuclear weapons he said the UK could still spend 2% of its budget on defence by investing in conventional forces, training and equipment.

He added: “Nuclear weapons are despicable. If only we used the same sophistication in dealing with global poverty.”