SNP gathers forces to dump Trident replacement

SNP MSP Bill Kidd has welcomed the first meeting of the Scottish Government's Working Group on a Scotland without nuclear weapons.

Mr Kidd highlighted how Trident was a jobs destroyer in Scotland, and how there was overwhelming opposition to a Trident replacement from Scottish MPs, the Scottish Parliament and the public.

Commenting Mr Kidd said:

"Both the Scottish Trade Unions Council and Scottish CND have shown that if the UK Government was not spending billions of pounds on a new generation of weapons of mass destruction we could have significant investment in other, more productive parts of our economy.

"Trident is a costly waste of government's limited resources. It is a jobs destroyer as well as being immoral.

"The STUC has shown up the scaremongering of some Labour politicians and the Ministry of Defence. Trident is not the key to employment on the Clyde. In fact replacing Trident could cost Scotland and the Clyde 3,000 jobs.

"There are many more ways of ensuring employment that do not require nuclear weapons.

"Through the National Conversation and with the support of the Scottish Parliament following the historic vote on 14th June to oppose new nuclear weapons on the Clyde the SNP is keen to work with the STUC and SCND to see a future for Scotland and for jobs on the Clyde that does not include Trident."

Scottish MP's right to determine location of Trident?

YOUGOV SURVEY FOR SNP

Fieldwork: March 12-15, 2007 Sample Size: 1144

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

'If a majority of Scottish MPs vote in parliament against the replacement of Britain's Trident nuclear missiles, that replacement nuclear missile system should not be sited in Scotland'

Agree - 65

Disagree - 23

Don't know - 12

Keeping Trident in Scotland for at least 50 years

ICM for Scottish CND on 26-29 January 2007

The government has begun considering plans to replace Britain's nuclear weapon system, Trident, which is nearing the end of its lifetime.

If the government goes ahead with the plans, nuclear weapons would be based in Scotland for the next 50 years. Would you support or oppose nuclear weapons being based in Scotland for this period of time?

Oppose - 64

Support - 30

Don't know - 6 

Replacing Trident at a cost of £50bn

ICM for Scottish CND on 26-29 January 2007

The cost of replacing Trident is estimated by the government to be around £20 billion, with running costs estimated by others to take the amount spent in total to around £50 billion over the lifetime of the new weapons system.

Do you think it is right or wrong to spend around £50 billion in total on new nuclear weapons ?

Wrong - 73

Right - 21

Don't know - 6

Replacing Trident at a cost of £25 bn capital cost

YOUGOV SURVEY FOR SNP

Fieldwork: February 13-19, 2007; sample 1,191

I would rather see the £25 billion capital cost for a new generation of nuclear missiles spent on public services such as local schools, hospitals and police

Agree - 76

Disagree - 12

Not sure - 12

The UK government is due to make a decision on the purchase of a new generation nuclear missile system to replace Trident, at a capital cost of around £25 billion. Would you support or oppose the government buying a new nuclear missile system to replace Trident?

Support purchase of system to replace Trident - 18

Oppose purchase of system to replace Trident - 66

Don't know - 16

YOUGOV SURVEY FOR SNP

Fieldwork: March 12-15, 2007 Sample Size: 1144 T

he latest estimate for the life-time cost of a replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system is between £76 billion and £100 billion pounds. Do you think this is a good or bad use of public money?

Good use - 15

Bad use - 72

Don't know - 13

The working group has been given a six-point remit including alternative employment, the legality of nuclear weapons and the “adequacy of the current licensing and regulatory framework”

OFFICIAL REMIT 

In the event of a decision to remove nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde, to examine the economic impact and to identify options for the development of alternative employment opportunities.

• To explore the various international opinions that exist on the legality of nuclear weapons so far as relevant to matters within the devolved competence of the Scottish Government.
• To explore the implications of seeking observer status at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Group and advise the Scottish Government on that process.
• To consider the adequacy of the current licensing and regulatory framework that exists in relation to HM Naval Base Clyde in relation to environmental, planning and transport issues.
• To identify good practice elsewhere in the world in developing peace and reconciliation and consider how Scotland might contribute to this work.
• To report to Ministers with advice, within the context of their devolved responsibilities, on a regular basis.

Bruce Crawford MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business

Rev Dr David Sinclair, Church of Scotland

John Deighan, Roman Catholic Church

Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation

Professor William Walker, School of International Relations, University of St Andrews

Dr Rebecca Johnson, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy.

David Moxham, Scottish Trades Union Congress

Gillian Slider, Scottish Youth Parliament

Isobel Lindsay, Scotland’s for Peace

James Robb, SNP councillor for Helensburgh

Alan Mackinnon, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Dr Richard Dixon, WWF Scotland

Scott Blair, Advocate 

Today saw Comp U on total opposiiton passed to Trident passed by STUC - only Prospect dissenting

the scottish people have to look at whats going to be done in scotland, labour wants new nuclear sites, the old ones are past their sell by date and the beaches are contaminated. you dont have to be a old fashioned hippy type to get real about it, our familys & infrastructure are worth fighting about so lets give labour a resounding NO to any new developments either for military use or so called civilian use. its not nice stuff not at all.