UK:The British government tonight survived a major Labour backbench revolt to secure the backing of the House of Commons for its plan to replace Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent.
The government won the main motion by 409 votes to 161, a majority of 248.
Earlier, an amendment tabled by rebel Labour MPs to delay Trident renewal was defeated by 413 to 167, a 246 vote majority.
The rebels claimed more than 90 Labour MPs voted for delay, with others abstaining, the biggest revolt since the Iraq war.
With David Cameron's Tories voting for Trident replacement the government was never in danger of defeat.
However the scale of the rebellion is another blow for the authority of Tony Blair as his premiership enters its final months.
Earlier two more ministerial aides - Stephen Pound , the parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Labour Party chairman Hazel Blears, and Chris Ruane, the PPS to Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain - resigned in protest.
In the Commons, Mr Blair defended the decision to retain Trident and said it was essential a decision to begin work on the design of a new submarine fleet was taken now. "I think that is essential for our security in an uncertain world," he told MPs at prime minister's questions. "We can't put this decision off. We have to take it now." In an olive branch to opponents of Trident renewal, Mr Blair said future parliaments would be able to revisit the issue as the actual orders for the submarines would be placed early in the next decade.
"It's absolutely right, of course, that this parliament can't bind the decisions of a future parliament. It's always open to come back and look at these issues," he said.
Mr Cameron also emphasised his party's support for maintaining Trident.
"Replacing Britain's independent nuclear deterrent is in the national interest," he said. "In a dangerous and uncertain world, unilateral nuclear disarmament has never been and will never be the right answer."
However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell warned that a "hasty" decision would undermine Britain's influence at forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation talks. - ( PA )