REMOVING nuclear weapons can be achieved by day one of an independent Scotland, the Alba Party have said.
A new policy paper by Alex Salmond’s party said that the “only justification” for nuclear weapons to remain in Scotland any longer would be for “financial compensation”.
Assuming that the time between a vote for independence and the first day as a newly established independent state would be two years, the party said that it would be possible to complete the “entire programme” of removing nukes and submarines from Scotland would take just three months.
The paper, authored by Alba’s general secretary Chris McEleny (below) who is a former employee of the Ministry of Defence, estimates the time for removing Trident missiles from one Vanguard submarine to be less than one day and the removal of warheads from missiles to be five days.
The nuclear components could then be removed for storage at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston, Berkshire and the Trident missiles moved to the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia, USA, the paper added.
READ MORE: Money spent on Trident could be used on social security after independence
All in this process would take 12 weeks, the paper argued, adding: “This could obviously be extended if the UK Government made the decision to end the programme in advance of the date at which Scotland would be re-established as an independent country.”
If the UK Government did not accept this, the paper goes on, the new Scottish Government could block ballistic missile submarines from entering Scottish waters and close the Border to convoys of warheads from England.
Could UK axe Trident replacement?
This could see the UK Government decide to host its nuclear warheads in the US, something the paper said could put “immense financial pressures” on the remaining parts of Britain after independence.
The paper said: “Faced with this eventuality it is entirely possible that the UK Government may make the political choice to cancel the successor programme to Trident.”
McEleny said: “The independence movement and the campaign for nuclear disarmament have went hand in hand for many decades.
“In recent years there has been an increasing narrative moving towards a multilateral approach within some quarters of the independence movement and some have suggested that removing Trident from Scotland would be a longer-term goal.
“This policy paper sets out today that it is safe, feasible and practicable to ensure that an independent Scotland will begin its life as a nuclear weapons-free state from day one.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel