FAILING to address acute concerns about the state of Trident nuclear submarines is putting Scottish lives “at risk” and shows Westminster’s “blatant disregard for Scotland”, an MP has said.
Martin Docherty-Hughes issued the warning ahead of a debate in Parliament today, in which he will attempt to get answers from the UK Government over serious concerns raised by a top insider about Britain’s nuclear weapons.
The SNP defence spokesperson will lead an adjournment debate on Wednesday evening to highlight bombshell comments from former top government adviser Dominic Cummings.
Cummings sparked concerns about Trident when he claimed to have sought assurances from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that he would deal with the “scandal” of nuclear weapons infrastructure which he described as a “dangerous disaster and a budget nightmare of hard-to-believe and highly classified proportions”.
Docherty-Hughes (above), the SNP’s defence spokesperson said: “The UK Government must investigate and come clean over whether there is any truth to the comments made by the former prime minister’s chief advisor.”
The West Dunbartonshire MP represents an area close to HMNB Clyde, also known as Faslane, where Trident missiles are kept.
He called on the UK Government to address safety issues with nuclear submarines “as a matter of urgency”.
READ MORE: Fresh Trident safety fears as submarines' 'life expectancy' extended repeatedly
It comes after we revealed that two nuclear submarines currently in action have repeatedly had their life expectancies extended, despite past predictions that both would be out of commission by this year.
Docherty-Hughes added: “The SNP are clear that the nuclear weapons programme should be scrapped.
"However, whilst the UK Government continues to impose the billion-pound Trident programme upon Scotland, and while it remains on Scottish soil, the Ministry of Defence has a responsibility to ensure any structural or mechanical issues within either Faslane or Coulport bases are addressed as a matter of urgency.
“By failing to take the necessary steps, they are placing the lives of the workers and those in the surrounding communities in danger and making clear their blatant disregard for Scotland.”
The MoD did not respond to a request for comment.
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