News
Bairns not bombs
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- Published on Thursday, 28 November 2013 10:58
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mark McDonald MSP (SNP) said "Independence is about investment in Bairns not Bombs". Earlier Scottish Green Party co-convenor Patrick Harvie said that he would love to live in an independent Scotland that funds childcare not Weapons of Mass Destruction. This was then quoted by First Minister Alex Salmond in his speech on the independence White Paper.
Obsolete question of whether visiting warships are nuclear-armed
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- Published on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 11:58
Following publication of the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence there has been questioning of the SNP's response to the issue of whether they would allow visits from NATO warships if it was unclear whether or not they were carrying nuclear weapons. This was a serious issue in the 1980s and in particular was a bone of contention between New Zealand and the United States. However it has not been a live issue for 20 years.
An independent Scotland will Ban the Bomb
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- Published on Tuesday, 26 November 2013 11:35
Scottish CND welcomed the Scottish Government's commitment to removing Trident by 2020. Coordinator John Ainslie said - "Scottish CND welcomes the commitment in the White Paper to removing Trident from Scotland and the proposal for a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons. If Scotland banned the bomb this would be widely welcomed, not just across this country but by most governments around the world."
Moving Trident inconveivable - Faslane Admiral
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- Published on Sunday, 24 November 2013 10:15
In evidence to the Defence Committee Rear Admiral Martin Alabaster, former commander at Faslane, said "It would be very difficult - in fact, I would almost use the word inconceivable - to recreate the facilities necessary to mount the strategic deterrent somewhere else in the UK". So Scottish independence is likely to lead, not just to a nuclear-free Scotland, but to there being no nuclear weapons in Britain. Sunday Herald article by Rob Edwards.
Spending on Trident missile upgrade increases
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- Published on Sunday, 24 November 2013 10:09
The amount the UK government is spending on upgrading Trident missiles has increased by 600% since 2010. Scottish CND coordinator John Ainslie said - "David Cameron is wasting millions of pounds on missiles that Britain will never own. We should spend this money employing an extra 1,000 nurses, rather than subsidising American arms companies". Sunday Herald report by Rob Edwards.
UK Government Trident and Scottish independence
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- Published on Thursday, 21 November 2013 14:43
The UK Government has rejected a request from the Defence Committee that they draw up detailed contingency plans for Trident in the event of Scottish independence.
Possible delay to US Trident Replacement
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- Published on Monday, 18 November 2013 14:24
A report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) proposes a 3 year delay and a reduction in submarine numbers for the US Trident Replacement programme, in order to save $30 billion. If implemented this would have a serious impact on the British programme. The CBO report says that the US/UK agreement for the Common Missile Compartment would need to be renegotiated. This would probably increase the costs of the British Trident replacement. The implications for the US are discussed in a blog from Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists. CBO report (see page 78)