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Scottish independence: UK defence provides 'critical mass' Scottish independence: Yes vote 'risk to jobs'
(35 minutes later)
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has claimed the UK's shared defence forces provide benefits of scale. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has predicted that a vote for Scottish independence would put defence jobs at risk.
Speaking to defence workers in Glasgow, he predicted that a vote for Scottish independence would put defence jobs at risk. Speaking to defence workers in Glasgow, he claimed the UK's shared defence forces provide benefits of scale.
SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said Mr Hammond was spreading "myths and misinformation" in Scotland.SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said Mr Hammond was spreading "myths and misinformation" in Scotland.
The SNP has said that, in the event of a "yes" vote, all existing military bases in Scotland would be retained.The SNP has said that, in the event of a "yes" vote, all existing military bases in Scotland would be retained.
It has insisted, however, that nuclear submarines would be removed from their base on the Clyde.It has insisted, however, that nuclear submarines would be removed from their base on the Clyde.
Mr Hammond said: "Our armed forces, drawn from the four nations of our Union, have proven themselves time and again to be the finest armed forces in the world. Mr Hammond said: "Successive UK governments have deliberately chosen to sustain our sovereign capability - albeit at a financial premium.
"The combination of our scale, our critical mass and our reputation allows us to punch above our weight in security terms and enables diplomacy that is second to none."
He also claimed that the long-term future of those supplying equipment to the UK armed forces would be undermined.
Mr Hammond added: "Successive UK governments have deliberately chosen to sustain our sovereign capability - allbeit at a financial premium.
"As a result no complex warships for the Royal Navy have been procured from outside the UK since the start of the 20th century - except during the two world wars."As a result no complex warships for the Royal Navy have been procured from outside the UK since the start of the 20th century - except during the two world wars.
"Today that policy and the Royal Navy's scale delivers billions of pounds of investment and sustains thousands of Scottish jobs directly and indirectly, and I believe it is neither in Scotland's interest nor the rest of the United Kingdom's to put that at risk""Today that policy and the Royal Navy's scale delivers billions of pounds of investment and sustains thousands of Scottish jobs directly and indirectly, and I believe it is neither in Scotland's interest nor the rest of the United Kingdom's to put that at risk"
Mr Hammond added: "Our armed forces, drawn from the four nations of our Union, have proven themselves time and again to be the finest armed forces in the world.
"The combination of our scale, our critical mass and our reputation allows us to punch above our weight in security terms and enables diplomacy that is second to none."
Defence cooperationDefence cooperation
Commenting after the defence secretary's speech, the SNP's leader in Westminster and defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "Another day, another scare story.Commenting after the defence secretary's speech, the SNP's leader in Westminster and defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "Another day, another scare story.
"Scotland is a maritime nation but we have no maritime patrol aircraft. They used to be based here until they were all scrapped by the UK government."Scotland is a maritime nation but we have no maritime patrol aircraft. They used to be based here until they were all scrapped by the UK government.
"We are a maritime nation but we have no maritime naval patrol vessels."We are a maritime nation but we have no maritime naval patrol vessels.
"Independence gives us the advantage of being able to make better decisions - so we have those maritime capabilities, so we have the things that we need as opposed to the things that we don't want, like Trident.""Independence gives us the advantage of being able to make better decisions - so we have those maritime capabilities, so we have the things that we need as opposed to the things that we don't want, like Trident."
'Threads of a rope'
Mr Hammond's speech followed comments by the first sea lord about the prospect of Scottish independence.Mr Hammond's speech followed comments by the first sea lord about the prospect of Scottish independence.
Admiral Sir George Zambellas told the BBC that it would be like "pulling threads out of rope".Admiral Sir George Zambellas told the BBC that it would be like "pulling threads out of rope".
Sir George said: "I believe very strongly that, for a premier league navy, respected around the world, with a big responsibility, for us to be divided would be less efficient for both the UK and Scotland.Sir George said: "I believe very strongly that, for a premier league navy, respected around the world, with a big responsibility, for us to be divided would be less efficient for both the UK and Scotland.
"The nature of our military construct, infrastructure, basing, people, equipment and the families who support a hard-pressed navy, all of those add up to a construct which doesn't bear dividing its efficiency, and my job is to provide the navy as efficiently as I can."The nature of our military construct, infrastructure, basing, people, equipment and the families who support a hard-pressed navy, all of those add up to a construct which doesn't bear dividing its efficiency, and my job is to provide the navy as efficiently as I can.
"The way we do business means that if you try to pull some threads out of the rope it's much less efficient, and that applies particularly to the navy because it's so hard-pressed."The way we do business means that if you try to pull some threads out of the rope it's much less efficient, and that applies particularly to the navy because it's so hard-pressed.
But Col Stuart Crawford, who has advised the SNP on defence matters, said an independent Scotland would be "more than capable" of running its own armed forces.But Col Stuart Crawford, who has advised the SNP on defence matters, said an independent Scotland would be "more than capable" of running its own armed forces.
He told the BBC Scottish forces would have a regional, not global, focus.He told the BBC Scottish forces would have a regional, not global, focus.
He said: "Scotland would be more than capable of running its own armed forces should the country become independent.He said: "Scotland would be more than capable of running its own armed forces should the country become independent.
"We shouldn't imagine that those armed forces would be a microcosm of the UK's armed forces - not just 10% of the UK inventory if you like."We shouldn't imagine that those armed forces would be a microcosm of the UK's armed forces - not just 10% of the UK inventory if you like.
"It would be something much more modest with a different focus.""It would be something much more modest with a different focus."
The Scottish independence referendum is scheduled for September 18.The Scottish independence referendum is scheduled for September 18.