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| Scottish independence could threaten Trident, MPs warn | Scottish independence could threaten Trident, MPs warn |
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| A vote for Scottish independence could force the UK to "unilaterally disarm" its Trident nuclear weapons unless a clear deal is reached to ensure the fleet continues operating, a committee of MPs has warned. | A vote for Scottish independence could force the UK to "unilaterally disarm" its Trident nuclear weapons unless a clear deal is reached to ensure the fleet continues operating, a committee of MPs has warned. |
| The Scottish affairs select committee claimed that the Royal Navy could be forced to disarm its Trident missiles "within days" of a vote for independence and withdraw Trident from its base on the Clyde within months – without any alternative base in the UK to take them. | The Scottish affairs select committee claimed that the Royal Navy could be forced to disarm its Trident missiles "within days" of a vote for independence and withdraw Trident from its base on the Clyde within months – without any alternative base in the UK to take them. |
| Since the Scottish National party (SNP) had made removing Trident a "non-negotiable" issue following independence, the committee stated: "Scottish separation creates the prospect of unilateral nuclear disarmament being imposed upon the Royal Navy and UK government for an indeterminate period." | |
| The Labour-dominated committee said that made it imperative that the Scottish and UK governments reach an agreement before the referendum was held in late 2014 on how to ensure the Trident system remained operational. | |
| That would either involve a deal between Edinburgh and London to allow Trident to operate from Scotland until a permanent alternative was found; the technically and politically challenging route of basing Trident in France or the US temporarily or an agreement to lease the Clyde base permanently to the rest of the UK. | That would either involve a deal between Edinburgh and London to allow Trident to operate from Scotland until a permanent alternative was found; the technically and politically challenging route of basing Trident in France or the US temporarily or an agreement to lease the Clyde base permanently to the rest of the UK. |
| The first minister, Alex Salmond, and his defence spokesman, Angus Robertson, have indicated that they would expect Trident's withdrawal from Scotland to be phased "safely". The submarines operate from Faslane naval base near Helensburgh, while all the warheads are in a more remote facility at Coulport on a neighbouring loch. | The first minister, Alex Salmond, and his defence spokesman, Angus Robertson, have indicated that they would expect Trident's withdrawal from Scotland to be phased "safely". The submarines operate from Faslane naval base near Helensburgh, while all the warheads are in a more remote facility at Coulport on a neighbouring loch. |
| Ian Davidson, the committee chairman – who also has a strong record of opposition to Trident – said: "With all these variables flowing from the apparent commitment of the Scottish government to the 'speediest safe' removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland, it is clear that the Scottish people must know exactly what is involved before any vote is put to them. | Ian Davidson, the committee chairman – who also has a strong record of opposition to Trident – said: "With all these variables flowing from the apparent commitment of the Scottish government to the 'speediest safe' removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland, it is clear that the Scottish people must know exactly what is involved before any vote is put to them. |
| "The full details of how and when Trident would be removed from Scotland and the full consequences of that plan must be worked out before any referendum is held." | "The full details of how and when Trident would be removed from Scotland and the full consequences of that plan must be worked out before any referendum is held." |
| His warnings brought a rebuke from Philip Hammond, the defence secretary. He said Trident was "the ultimate safeguard of our national security", adding that: "There is absolutely no question that the UK will unilaterally disarm. | His warnings brought a rebuke from Philip Hammond, the defence secretary. He said Trident was "the ultimate safeguard of our national security", adding that: "There is absolutely no question that the UK will unilaterally disarm. |
| "We are confident that the Scottish people will choose to remain part of the United Kingdom. The naval base at Faslane is the largest single site employer in Scotland with over 6,000 jobs and we have no plans to move the nuclear deterrent from there. The Scottish government needs to explain how independence would benefit Scotland's defence, economy and jobs." | "We are confident that the Scottish people will choose to remain part of the United Kingdom. The naval base at Faslane is the largest single site employer in Scotland with over 6,000 jobs and we have no plans to move the nuclear deterrent from there. The Scottish government needs to explain how independence would benefit Scotland's defence, economy and jobs." |
| The committee's warnings were greeted with delight by the SNP – which last Friday voted to join Nato while campaigning against nuclear weapons after an at times ill-tempered debate – and the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). On Tuesday, two rebel SNP MSPs resigned from the party in protest at the pro-Nato vote. | The committee's warnings were greeted with delight by the SNP – which last Friday voted to join Nato while campaigning against nuclear weapons after an at times ill-tempered debate – and the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). On Tuesday, two rebel SNP MSPs resigned from the party in protest at the pro-Nato vote. |
| Bill Kidd, an SNP MSP, said the committee's report "only enhances" the argument for making Scotland nuclear-free. A majority of MSPs, churches, trade unions and civic groups opposed nuclear weapons, he said. | Bill Kidd, an SNP MSP, said the committee's report "only enhances" the argument for making Scotland nuclear-free. A majority of MSPs, churches, trade unions and civic groups opposed nuclear weapons, he said. |
| "Trident is not wanted in Scotland, and never has been – yet the UK government are proposing to waste £100bn dumping another generation of Trident nuclear weapons on the river Clyde," he said. | "Trident is not wanted in Scotland, and never has been – yet the UK government are proposing to waste £100bn dumping another generation of Trident nuclear weapons on the river Clyde," he said. |
| "With independence, we can ensure that Scotland's share of the money wasted on Trident is diverted to building a stronger and fairer society." | "With independence, we can ensure that Scotland's share of the money wasted on Trident is diverted to building a stronger and fairer society." |
| Arthur West, the chairman of Scottish CND, said it disputed the committee's arguments that an alternative base could be built elsewhere in the UK. Prof William Walker, professor of international relations at St Andrews University, had told the committee there was no suitable location outside Scotland. | |
| "Westminster governments have used Scotland for over 50 years as a base for these most dangerous and morally repugnant weapons," he said. "One criticism of the report is that it overplays the idea that a new base could be built in England or Wales." | "Westminster governments have used Scotland for over 50 years as a base for these most dangerous and morally repugnant weapons," he said. "One criticism of the report is that it overplays the idea that a new base could be built in England or Wales." |
| Although the latest opinion polls show support for independence has fallen to about 30% in Scotland, the Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones, has said Wales would welcome Trident being based there in future. | Although the latest opinion polls show support for independence has fallen to about 30% in Scotland, the Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones, has said Wales would welcome Trident being based there in future. |
| Jones insisted this was a hypothetical scenario but his remarks were denounced by other Labour and opposition Welsh assembly members. | Jones insisted this was a hypothetical scenario but his remarks were denounced by other Labour and opposition Welsh assembly members. |
| Despite Hammond's insistence that the MoD had no contingency plans to redeploy Trident to a new base, an operation estimated to cost up to £25bn, political analysts believe the MoD – despite the minority support for independence – is informally looking at its options. | Despite Hammond's insistence that the MoD had no contingency plans to redeploy Trident to a new base, an operation estimated to cost up to £25bn, political analysts believe the MoD – despite the minority support for independence – is informally looking at its options. |
| There are strong doubts in the defence community whether Nato members would allow an anti-nuclear Scotland to join the alliance if its actions threatened Trident. While a strong vote in favour of independence would strengthen the Scottish government's hand, a dispute over Trident could damage Scotland's case in the wider independence negotiations, they believe. |