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2mo ago

SNP Faces Internal Divide Over Nuclear Weapons Policy

Ian Blackford calls for a shift from unilateral disarmament to multilateral approaches, while John Swinney reaffirms the SNP’s anti-nuclear stance.

The SNP says that money spent on maintaining the UK’s nuclear submarines, such as HMS Vanguard, could be better used elsewhere
Removing Trident from Scotland is SNP party policy

Overview

  • Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has urged the party to reconsider its long-standing policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament, advocating for a multilateral approach instead.
  • Blackford warns that the evolving global security landscape, including threats from Russia and China, necessitates a pragmatic reassessment of nuclear deterrence.
  • Current First Minister John Swinney has rejected Blackford’s position, maintaining that nuclear weapons provide no tangible benefit to Scotland’s security and advocating for conventional defense investments instead.
  • The SNP’s anti-nuclear stance has been a core part of its identity for over 60 years, with policies opposing Trident and nuclear armament deeply rooted in the party’s history.
  • Blackford’s comments have sparked calls for broader internal debate within the SNP about its defense policies, though party leadership remains resistant to significant change.