Majority against Trident waste

Commenting on David Cameron's remarks about the SNP and replacing Trident Glasgow SNP MSP and anti-Trident campaigner, Bill Kidd said the Tory  leader had learnt nothing about why his party had become so unpopular in Scotland.

Mr Kidd pointed out that a Trident replacement was opposed by a majority of MPs, the Scottish Parliament, civic Scotland and the Scottish public and any attempts to foist it on Scotland were anti-Scottish.

Mr Kidd said:

"It is this sort of arrogance that has led to to the marginalisation of the Tories in Scotland. They ignored majority opinion then and it led to them being wiped out at Westminster. David Cameron seems to be making a blithe assumption that he will be Prime Minister, but the people of Scotland will have their say at the General Election.

"There is clear opposition to the grossly expensive replacement of Trident in Scotland – up to £100 billion of taxpayers money would be spent on it over the next 30 years. The Scottish Parliament have overwhelmingly voted against the son of Trident, a majority of Scottish MPs reject it, and there is widespread opposition to Trident and its replacement.

"Civil society, trade unions, religious organisations and the Scottish Government are working together to ensure a new generation of Trident missiles is kept away from Scotland's shores.

“David Cameron isn’t even in office and he is picking fights with Scotland - he should stop treating Scotland like a county and realise it is a nation.

"With David Cameron demanding investment cuts in public services, it is utterly astounding he is planning to waste even more on Trident. The money should be invested in protecting and creating jobs in these troubled economic times. With the Labour UK Government running up debts of £1.4 trillion, it is clear that we can’t afford to waste such an obscene amount of money on unwanted, unnecessary weapons of mass destruction.

"Instead of squandering billions on these devastating and dangerous missiles, David Cameron could have taken the lead in calling for an end to nuclear weapons by bringing an end to this shameful waste of resources."

ENDS

Notes:

Opposition to Trident
 
a. At Westminster on 14th March 2007 33 of Scotland's MPs voted against Trident with only 22 for.
 
b. In the Scottish Parliament on 14th June 2007 71 MSPs voted against Trident with only 16 for. 
 
c. Consistent polling has shown a majority of the Scottish public are against Trident.
 

i. Scottish MPs 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
 

ii. 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
 

iii. 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
 

iv. Replacing Trident at a cost of £25 bn capital cost
 
YOUGOV SURVEY FOR SNP: RESULTS 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