A Labour MP has used his question at Prime Minister's Question to thank Theresa May for defending the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Jamie Reed, a figure on the right wing of the Labour party and a vocal critic of Mr Corbyn, is a staunch backer of building more nuclear weapons after Trident expires.

Addressing the Prime Minister at her first PMQs from the dispatch box, Mr Reed had warm words for the Tory leader.

"Can I thank her too for her wholehearted support and endorsement of the official Labour party policy on Trident," he said.

He added, in a swipe at Mr Corbyn: "It’s such a refreshing change to hear that front the dispatch box."

Mr Reed's question was greeted noisly by the House of Commons benches.

Ms May did not respond to Mr Reed's comments. She however said at the beginning of the PMQs session: "Can I thank those 140 Labour MPs who put the national interest first and voted to renew the nuclear deterrent."

Labour yesterday was split on whether to support renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Jeremy Corbyn is against building more nuclear weapons, arguing that they are not suitable for the kind of national threats Britain faces.