Fallon visits Faslane to attack SNP’S ‘confused’ position on nuclear weapons
The Defence Secretary has hit out at the SNP’S “confused” position on nuclear weapons on a visit to the Clyde Naval Base.
Sir Michael Fallon held global security talks with Nato’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and ambassadors at the home of the UK’S nuclear deterrent to mark the 350th nuclear submarine patrol.
He said the UK would continue to play a leading role in Nato’s deterrence missions, emphasising the £1.3 billion investment planned for the base over the next ten years.
The visit came a day after Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reaffirmed her commitment to removing nuclear missiles from Scotland.
Speaking at Holyrood, she said: “I want to see a world free of nuclear weapons and I think that countries such as the United Kingdom should lead by example.
“Instead of spending tens of billions of pounds on a new generation of Trident nuclear missiles, we should get rid of Trident nuclear missiles from the Clyde.
“We will continue to support action for unilateral nuclear disarmament because, if countries lead by example, the world will be a safer place in the long term as a result.”
Responding to the comments, Sir Michael said the SNP needed to “sort out” their position on the nuclear deterrent.
He said: “As I understand it the SNP position seems very confused now. They want to join Nato, Nato is a nuclear alliance and our nuclear forces, the French nuclear forces, the American nuclear forces are part of Nato’s nuclear alliance.
“The nuclear deterrent here today keeps Britain safe, it keeps Nato safe as well and Scotland is part of that.”
The base on the Clyde has been home to the submarine-based nuclear deterrent for five decades, with investment planned to update and upgrade its engineering and training facilities. It will be home to the entire UK submarine service by 2020.