Top Tory Gallacher blasts Nats over nukes
THE Scottish Conservatives have criticised the SNP’s opposition to Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Deputy leader Meghan Gallacher was yesterday in Helensburgh, near the Faslane naval base – home to the UK’s submarine fleet.
Gallacher highlighted a GMB union report outlining jobs that rely on the base – 6500 military and civilian staff and 4000 in the local economy and supply chain.
She said: “The Scottish Conservatives are the only party truly committed to retaining our nuclear deterrent – along with the 11,000 jobs it supports in and around Faslane.
“Global security is as fragile today as it has been in decades, given Russia’s appalling invasion of Ukraine and the deepening conflict in the Middle East.
“Now, more than ever, we require the security of a nuclear deterrent and yet the SNP recklessly oppose Trident while many in Scottish Labour and in Keir Starmer’s frontbench team, including his deputy Angela Rayner, share their hostility.
“They would happily put our national security at risk and threaten livelihoods in Helensburgh and beyond.”
She added: “Constituents in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber know that only our superb local candidate, Amanda Hampsey, will stand up for those whose jobs depend on Faslane.”
SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty-Hughes said: “The Tories and Labour both prioritise wasting billions of taxpayers’ money on nuclear weapons but claim there is no money to improve our NHS, to help families with the cost of living or to properly invest in our green energy future.
“This money would be much better spent on a raft of other priorities including providing more money for conventional defence.”