THE Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has warned the SNP that Scotland faces being stuck with Trident unless the party set a fixed deadline post-independence to remove it.
In a major intervention the organisation have called for delegates at the party’s conference this weekend to back a motion calling for the weapons system to be scrapped within three years of independence.
The move follows the publication of a counter proposal from other SNP members demanding that the party do not fix a timetable but leave an open deadline.
But Scottish CND fear that if a three-year deadline is not fixed a newly independent Scotland could end up indefinitely delaying Trident’s removal post independence amid negotiations with the UK Government.
READ MORE: UK Government's 'secret' plans for Trident after independence revealed
“Scottish CND welcomes the debate at SNP conference on a clear timetable for removing nuclear weapons from Scotland. Our report, Disarming Trident,examines in detail the technical issues,” said a statement released exclusively to The National.
“The UK Government needs to know that Trident removal post-independence will not be subject to never-ending excuses for delay and that they must make preparations well in advance. “A three-year timetable is in practice likely to be five years including the period from a Yes referendum vote. This gives them adequate time to prepare a new facility for storing what will soon be 240 nuclear warheads currently based in Scotland and to make provision for the removal of the Vanguard submarines.
“We fully expect that there will be vigorous campaigns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to have these weapons decommissioned.”
The statement added: “The new Scottish state must also be able to proceed with its plans for Faslane without years of delay whether as a conventional naval base as is SNP’s policy or as a centre for the development of marine renewable energy or both. The Faslane/Coulport base covers a substantial area.
“There is a clear political majority in Scotland which supports an independent Scotland ratifying the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and this means that Scotland will have international backing.
“Our neighbour, Ireland, has ratified the Treaty. Ratifying the TPNW requires that member states who have nuclear weapons on their territory remove these as soon as possible and must agree a timetable with the other State Parties. I am sure that the proposals from SNP CND will satisfy that requirement for early removal. This will be an inspiration for campaigners throughout the world.”
The resolution, lodged by SNP CND, states: “In line with the provisions of the TPNW, conference calls upon a future SNP Government of an independent Scotland to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland within three years.”
READ MORE: George Kerevan: Don't believe everything you read from 'officials' on Trident
Opposing this, the amendment, put down by the party’s Castle Douglas and Glenkens branches, reads: “Delete ‘to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland within three years’ and replace with ‘start the practical work to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland within three years’.”
The debate is due to take place on Sunday, September 12 at the SNP conference, due to be held online.
The party has been working on a road map to move nuclear warheads and submarines from the Clyde and drawing up defence diversification plans which include using the Faslane naval base as the headquarters for an independent Scotland’s conventional military in part to cushion the economic impact of Trident’s withdrawal.
READ MORE: SNP and Greens welcome Tory plans to remove Trident from independent Scotland
Removing the weapons would pose a huge headache for the UK Government. Alternative sites that have been suggested for the nuclear submarines before include Devonport in Plymouth and Milford Haven in Wales but none is as well situated as Faslane with its rapid access directly into the Irish Sea and the north Atlantic.
Other options floated include asking France or the United States to take the weapons.
A further option, which has been set out in Westminster Government plans, is for the UK to lease Faslane from an independent Scotland.
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