Mark Ruskell: Today a nuclear-free Scotland comes within our nation’s sights

With Honduras becoming the 50th nation to ratify the treaty in October, all signatories have had until today to ensure that they play no part in nuclear proliferation or testing.

We shouldn’t ignore the significance of this. This is a treaty signed by 86 nations which makes it illegal for them to have anything to do with the creation, spread or use of nuclear weapons. It changes the way the world approaches these instruments of mass devastation, forever.

This landmark moment comes thanks to the tireless work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which was awarded with a Nobel peace prize in 2017 for its efforts.

Many of the signatories are small countries but their voice has been heard. It has been shown that a UN treaty like this can change behaviours, even of countries that haven’t signed up to them.

READ MORE: 'Deeply irresponsible': Anger as nuclear convoy enters Scotland mid-lockdown

Of course, the United Kingdom has played no part in this, beyond joining the USA in sneering at it.

Boris Johnson called the treaty “dangerous”. The world is far more in danger from his government, which is increasing military spending by £16.5 billion while only putting £4 billion into a climate wish list that includes nuclear power.

The real global danger is the destructive capability of nuclear weapons, which a handful of states have stockpiled to obscene levels.

It’s estimated the UK has a stockpile of 215 nuclear warheads, more than enough to devastate the planet many times over.

These warheads sit ready to be deployed from Scotland. Indeed, nuclear weapons are travelling through Scotland on convoys, even during this pandemic. Last weekend I reported that while most of us are stuck at home because of restrictions and the NHS is stretched, the latest nuclear convoy travelled through Scotland on its way from Berkshire. On Wednesday, despite the forecast snow, it made the return journey, just a couple of miles past my home near Stirling.

It’s not what I’d call an essential journey but it speaks volumes about the priorities of the UK.

It is deeply irresponsible to have weapons of mass destruction on our roads, especially at the moment. Apart from the question about whether these convoys may have contributed to the recent outbreak of Covid at the Faslane naval base, if anything went wrong, our hospitals are full to bursting and our emergency services are stretched. They increase the risk of targeting by terrorist groups and although the likelihood of a catastrophic incident remains slim, the implications of a safety breach would be horrific and impossible to contain.

Instead of putting up with this, Scotland can play a positive, leading role in ridding the world of these apocalyptic devices. Given public opinion in Scotland, I have no doubt an independent Scotland could sign up to the treaty.

Just think, if we acceded to the treaty, the nuclear submarine base at Faslane would become illegal, and we could invest in alternative, sustainable employment for the workers there. Scotland would no longer be a home for nuclear weapons.

This would place even more pressure on the countries that wield these weapons. It would also make it illegal for rUK or American nuclear weapons to be placed in Scotland, putting pressure on governments to rethink their strategic priorities.

At the same time Scotland could lead in peace and conflict resolution as countries like Norway have while building expertise in tackling major global security threats such as cyber-terrorism and climate change.

READ MORE: Why Trident removal critical to security of independent Scotland

But it will require commitment. Remaining part of the Nato alliance with nuclear states would send out a confused message to the world, it would say that we are content for others to press the nuclear button on our behalf. It is baffling why the SNP see that as a morally credible option.

There is also the way in which nuclear weapons are financed. As the Don’t Bank on the Bomb campaign has highlighted, Scottish financial institutions and pension schemes invested around £6bn in nuclear weapons in 2019 alone.

But financial institutions across the world are already starting to take this treaty into account. In Japan, the only country to have been struck with a nuclear weapon as an act of aggression, financial investors have started to divest.

There is a momentum building which the USA has failed to slow, and which Scotland can be part of.

Instead of continuing to be part of one of the world’s biggest nuclear powers and arms dealers, Scotland can go on a different path. Signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons would be a glorious way to rejoin the family of nations. It should be the first thing we do.