Trident submarines on the Clyde
Saddam Hussein may have been a threat to the world, but he was not alone. While it looks increasingly unlikely that Iraq had a nuclear capability, our country does possess weapons of mass destruction which offer nothing but the possibility of human desecration. We should not be investing in the absurdity of Trident nuclear missiles, a programme which costs taxpayers over £1000 million every year.
Scotland's position is expensive and dangerous - not only do we have to foot the bill for Trident, and suffer the submarines in Scottish waters, we are the prime target for an enemy strike!
Trident is Illegal Anyway...
On 21st October 1999 Sheriff Margaret Gimblet instructed the jury at Greenock Sheriff Court to acquit Angie Zelter, Ellen Moxley and Ulla Roder who had been charged with causing £80,000 damage to "Maytime" (a floating research laboratory working on Trident) in Loch Goil. It was conceded that the threat or use of nuclear weapons was generally contrary to international law by the International Court of Justice and the deployment of Trident is seen as a threat.
The SNP have a longstanding objection to nuclear weapons. We would negotiate a phased but complete withdrawal of Trident from the Clyde and invest our savings from this costly, deadly and unnecessary nuclear deterrent in conventional defence as well as in other priorities inculding health and education.
Even the Scottish Labour Party have voted against the Trident programme at successive conferences, but on every occasion have been over-ruled but their London bosses.
Faslane
Glasgow is only a few miles from Faslane Naval Base, home to the four illegal Trident nuclear submarines.
Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares regularly organise blockades of the main entrance to the base, preventing the morning shift from entering. These peaceful protests normally see a good SNP presence, including Kelvin activists. SNP Leader John Swinney has also made several appearances, along with other parliamentary representatives. updated 4/2/04