LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair survived a rebellion by lawmakers in his own party Wednesday when Parliament approved his program to replace Britain's fleet of four nuclear-armed submarines.
Blair's proposal survived a rebellion by 95 lawmakers in his own party, making it the biggest revolt among his ranks since the Iraq war.
Overwhelming support from Conservatives assured approval of Blair's plan Wednesday, with the motion passing by a vote of 409-161. His Labour Party has a majority of 67 seats in the House of Commons.
Critics said the $40 billion program could harm efforts to stem the weapons ambitions of Iran and other countries. But before the vote, Blair told the House of Commons that the submarines — due to be phased out starting in 2022 — should be replaced to meet possible future threats from rogue regimes and state-sponsored terrorists.
