SNP and Labour joined forces to send an anti-Trident message to Westminster.
Reaching a rare consensus, MSPs from both parties agreed to fight the renewal of the UK’s nuclear weapons system after the Scottish Government accepted the opposition’s policy position.
The debate was held after former Dunfermline MP Thomas Docherty expressed fears over the future of Fife’s shipbuilding industry if the deterrent was mothballed, a claim rejected by his party’s deputy leader, Alex Rowley.
Holyrood’s statement came two days after Scottish Labour made opposition to Trident official policy at its conference putting it at odds with UK Labour.
Senior Labour frontbencher Jackie Baillie rebelled against her party’s stance, claiming it would cost jobs in her constituency.
The SNP motion, amended by Labour to call for the thousands of affected workers to have their jobs transferred to other areas of the defence sector, was backed by 96 MSPs while 17 opposed.
Speaking after the debate, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson said the workers are being forgotten.
Keith Brown, who led proceedings for the Scottish Government, said the estimated £167 billion price tag is “indefensible” amid austerity cuts.
He added: “The UK Government seems in thrall to nuclear weapons and it appears fixed on writing a blank cheque for renewal.
“It seems to do so without clarity of debate on the implications of that decision.”
Claire Baker, Labour’s MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, called for Trident workers to be protected.
She said: “I grew up in Fife and know the impact of a key industry disappearing from the economic landscape of a region.”
Calling for a commitment to providing new jobs for nuclear staff, she added: “We cannot underestimate what cancellation would mean for the communities of Faslane and Coulport.”
Mr Rowley rejected Mr Docherty’s suggestions the Rosyth shipbuilding industry could be under threat if the nuclear deterrent is scrapped.
The Cowdenbeath MSP said: “Military chiefs agree if you go ahead with Trident it will lead to cuts elsewhere in the conventional budget and that is a bigger threat to jobs in Rosyth.
“I accept there are Trident-related jobs in Scotland, but that is why we amended the motion.”
The motion came after Lord Kinnock, a former leader of the UK Labour Party, warned current leader Jeremy Corbyn that the British electorate will never vote for unilateral disarmament.