What is the SNP position on nuclear weapons?

The SNP believes in creating a strong defence for Scotland which is centred on conventional defence forces.

Westminster has increased its nuclear spend to over £99.5bn over the last 10 years whilst a number of conventional forces have shrunk. The SNP feels strongly that Westminster’s unbalanced handling of its defence budget does not make Scotland safer.

In a changing and more dangerous world, the SNP is committed to investing in our conventional defence framework.

Conventional defence spending would provide more Scottish jobs and boost the local economy, as well as equipping our armed forces with the infrastructure and skills needed to keep us safe.

In an independent Scotland, the SNP would seek to negotiate with the rest of the UK for the removal of Trident from Faslane. This would be in the interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK, who would remain a crucial strategic defence partner.

However, currently Westminster does not prioritise Scotland’s territorial security – they spend seven times more on defence in the South of England than in the whole of Scotland.

No surface patrol vessels are based in Scotland despite offshore Scottish waters being the vast majority of the UK’s territorial waters.

Independence would give Scotland the chance to create a national defence policy that catered to Scotland’s specific security needs.

As a fully committed member of NATO, an independent Scotland would support the mission of the alliance without wishing to host nuclear weapons on our territory.

There is precedent for this, as Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark are all members of NATO whilst not hosting nuclear weapons.