ALBA members have voted for nuclear weapons being removed from the Clyde by the first day of an independent Scottish government.

The policy was approved at the party's inaugural conference in Greenock this morning, and means that the process of axing Trident from Scotland would be carried out during the transition period after a Yes vote and the new state being established.

The nuclear submarines are based at the Royal Naval base at Faslane.

READ MORE: Alba conference: Alex Salmond hints at another run for elected office

Alba want the nearby 1600 acre Coulport base on Loch Long - where the missiles are stored - transformed into Europe’s largest windfarm, which they say would send out an international message of how serious Scotland is about playing its part in tackling the global climate emergency. 

It has been heavily developed over the past five decades, with a National Grid connection, a series of road networks, and electrical distribution across the entire site.

Anti-nuclear campaigners fear that if a swift and fixed timetable is not set for Trident's removal, they could end up becoming a bargaining chip in the negotiations between the UK and Scottish Government during a transition period after a Yes vote.

READ MORE: Trident deadline vote to take place at SNP conference

Councillor Leigh Wilson, who moved the Trident motion today, said: "The rocks will melt with the sun before the Alba Party use the time that Trident can stay in an independent Scotland as a bargaining chip. 

"It is absolutely possible to have weapons of mass destruction removed from Scotland by day of independence if we make that a priority, it would be a political decision to allow Trident to stay in Scotland after we become independent. 

"Today Alba have set out our clear principle that we are for the immediate removal of Nuclear Weapons from Scotland, something that is only possible with independence.” 

This afternoon the SNP conference will debate a three year timetable to remove Trident from Scotland, following the establishment of an independent Scottish Government.

The National:

Scottish CND back the move but warn that taking account of a possible two year transition period this could mean five years after a Yes vote.

The Alba motion states: "The Alba Party is opposed to the manufacturing, hosting and use of nuclear weapons and calls on the negotiating party of an independent Scotland to ensure the removal of weapons of mass destruction, and all associated nuclear materials hosted at HMNB Clyde, from day one of Scotland being re-established as an independent nation."

It adds: "Conference notes that the RNAD Coulport Depot, which is used to mate Trident missiles to nuclear warheads before loading onto nuclear submarines, is ideally placed to harness wind energy potential.

"Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government of an independent Scotland to commence construction of Europe’s largest renewable energy windfarm at the current home of Trident immediately after weapons of mass destruction are removed from Scottish soil.

"Conference calls on an independent Scotland to endorse the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)."

The debates in both the SNP and Alba come weeks after secret UK Government contingency plans reportedly include moving Trident out of the UK under Scottish independence.

Senior officials told the Financial Times they could be moved to naval bases in the US or France.

The National: Chris McEleny ..Christopher McEleny.

The newspaper also reported that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) could keep them within an independent Scotland by creating a new British Overseas Territory.
A preferred option would be to move Trident to the Royal Navy base at Devonport in Plymouth.

The motion was drafted by Chris McEleny (above), who defected to the Alba Party from the SNP ahead of the May election. 

McEleny was a defence contractor and Ministry of Defence employee from 2004 to 2017. He was based at RNAD Coulport, the Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility from 2004 to 2016.