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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Faslane blockade by politicians | Faslane blockade by politicians |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Politicians are gathering at the Faslane naval base to continue a series of protests against the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system. | |
| It comes after a group of UK and international students and academics staged a protest over the weekend. | It comes after a group of UK and international students and academics staged a protest over the weekend. |
| The Faslane 365 group said renewing Trident at a cost of £20bn would be anti-democratic, illegal and unethical. | |
| Labour, SNP, Green, SSP, Solidarity and Plaid Cymru politicians will blockade the nuclear submarine base. | Labour, SNP, Green, SSP, Solidarity and Plaid Cymru politicians will blockade the nuclear submarine base. |
| Labour MSP Jackie Baillie told BBC Radio Scotland she thought the protests were directed at the wrong place. | |
| "It is in fact Westminster that make the decision," she said. | |
| Whilst Tony Blair is intent on obtaining even more of these weapons most people consider them obscene Colin FoxSSP convener | Whilst Tony Blair is intent on obtaining even more of these weapons most people consider them obscene Colin FoxSSP convener |
| "While I'm thankful we live in a democracy, and people have the right to protest, I do wish they would focus on those who are making the decision - those in the House of Commons." | |
| The elected representatives taking part in the protest include members of the Westminster, Scottish, Welsh, Dutch and European Parliaments, as well as local councillors. | |
| They will take part in a series of short speeches before attempting to block the gateway to the naval base. | They will take part in a series of short speeches before attempting to block the gateway to the naval base. |
| A spokesperson for Faslane 365 said: "The UK Government has no intention of fulfilling its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and of abiding with international law by decommissioning Trident. | A spokesperson for Faslane 365 said: "The UK Government has no intention of fulfilling its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and of abiding with international law by decommissioning Trident. |
| "Monday's blockade will make it clear that there are elected representatives who participate in resistance to Trident and that there are parties whose commitment to the removal of nuclear weapons is unwavering and unqualified. This is a great encouragement." | "Monday's blockade will make it clear that there are elected representatives who participate in resistance to Trident and that there are parties whose commitment to the removal of nuclear weapons is unwavering and unqualified. This is a great encouragement." |
| TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works | TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works |
| Meanwhile, Green MSP Chris Ballance said he is to propose a Holyrood 2007 manifesto pledge which would ban the use of Scotland's roads and inshore waters to move weapons of mass destruction. | Meanwhile, Green MSP Chris Ballance said he is to propose a Holyrood 2007 manifesto pledge which would ban the use of Scotland's roads and inshore waters to move weapons of mass destruction. |
| "If we can use Scottish law to block the movement of chickens because of bird flu and the risk to public health, then we can do the same for a weapon capable of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and contaminating vast areas of the globe with deadly radioactive material," he said. | "If we can use Scottish law to block the movement of chickens because of bird flu and the risk to public health, then we can do the same for a weapon capable of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and contaminating vast areas of the globe with deadly radioactive material," he said. |
| SNP Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon is to join several members of her party at the gates of the base. | |
| She said: "I cannot understand the hypocrisy of a prime minister who takes us into an illegal war in Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that don't exist, while he's happy to make room in Scotland for the most lethal bombs possible. | |
| "The opposition to a replacement for Trident is overwhelming - a recent poll discovered that 61% of people in Scotland thought the Scottish Parliament should have the ability to remove Trident missiles from the Clyde." | |
| Other protesters will include all four Scottish Socialist MSPs. | |
| SSP convener Colin Fox said: "Whilst Tony Blair is intent on obtaining even more of these weapons most people consider them obscene. | SSP convener Colin Fox said: "Whilst Tony Blair is intent on obtaining even more of these weapons most people consider them obscene. |
| "It is clear Labour just cannot be trusted on Trident. It is plainly a pro-nuclear party now." | "It is clear Labour just cannot be trusted on Trident. It is plainly a pro-nuclear party now." |
| On Sunday, the Roman Catholic Church urged its members to write to MPs to communicate their opposition to the renewal of Trident. |