2011 Election

Liberal Democrat Party

(See below for policy on nuclear power)

Liberal Democrat policy on Trident nuclear weapons

In June 2007 Liberal Democrat MSPs supported a motion in the Scottish Parliament which called on the UK Government not to go ahead with their plan to replace Trident.

In the 2010 general election the UK Liberal Democrats argued against a like-for-like replacement for Trident (more). However Liberal Democrats ministers are now part of the UK coaltion government which is implementing the plan to build this new system.

The following individual Liberal Democrat candidates in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011 have indicated that they will oppose the replacement of Trident:

Liberal Democrat policy on nuclear power

On 17 January 2008 Liberal Democrat MSPs supported a resolution in the Scottish Parliament which opposed the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto for the 2011 election ways that they will continue to oppose the construction of new nuclear power stations.

In addition the following individual Liberal Democrat candidates have replied to the Scotland's for Peace survey to indicate that they are opposed to the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland:

Additional information on UK Liberal Democrat policy on nuclear weapons in the 2010 general election

"Rule out the like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. At a cost of £100 billion over a lifetime it is unaffordable, and Britain’s security would be better served by alternatives. We support multilateral nuclear disarmament and will ensure that the UK plays a proactive role in the arms reduction talks starting later this year." - Liberal Democrat Manifesto

On 1 April 2010 they published a document which reviewed their policy on nuclear weapons. This list a number of options:

• Explore extending the life of the current Trident submarines
• Defence Review should consider taking Trident off patrol
• Arming Astute submarines with nuclear cruise missiles should be investigated
• A "virtual deterrent" where there were no weapons but the capability to develop them had some attractions
• The option of eliminating Britain's nuclear weapons capability should not be eliminated.

Download the full report (pdf) from the Liberal Democrat website.

"Liberal Democrats do not believe that the UK can afford the billions of pounds the Government wants to spend on a like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. Full-scale Trident is a cold war system that we no longer need
nor can afford. We believe that less expensive alternatives should be considered."
(Liberal Democrat Website)

Nick Clegg announced their opposition to a like-for-like replacement for Trident in a BBC TV interview in June 2009.

At the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Harrowgate on 3rd March 2007 a motion calling for Britain to phase out its nuclear weapons was narrowly defeated after the then leader, Menzies Campbell spoke against it.