"But there is something unsettling about the fact that the same lady who said that, only a few months ago told the House of Commons specifically that she is ready and willing to order a nuclear attack which would kill hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, which would of course include enormous numbers of children." - MGOH

Why unsettling Kevin? The USA, UK, Russia, China, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea all have nuclear weapons they claim as being defensive deterrents. There would of course be no point in any country having such a deterrent if the leadership of any of those country's stated that he or she would never use them. The deterrent effect of holding such weapons comes with fostering the undoubted belief in the minds, rational and thinking of any potential enemy that those weapons would be used.

In the case of the UK, our deterrent, on purpose is a second strike weapon. It has to be, to be effective, we live on a small island so land based "nukes" would be too vulnerable.

But seeing as you are unsettled Kev, be even more so now, because if you take at face value what Theresa May said, then realise this. The order to fire those missiles has already been given in the form of a sealed letter that is written by every single UK Prime Minister on taking office that outlines the circumstances under which the Commanding Officer of our SSBNs is authorised to launch his missiles, also hope and pray Kevin that BBC Radio 4 never goes "off air" for 24 hours by accident, because that is one of the "triggers" that would cause the Prime Minister's letter to be opened.