Ian Blackford has pushed back on any suggestion the SNP should drop they party’s commitment to getting rid of Trident following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a provocative move the SNP Westminster leader said the UK’s nuclear deterrent should go precisely because there is a “threat to the world from nuclear weapons”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the spectre of a nuclear war following the Ukraine invasion putting his land, air and sea nuclear forces on high alert as warning signal to the west.
But asked whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had changed his party’s position on the nuclear deterrent, Blackford restated the SNP commitment that the UK gets rid of the Trident nuclear deterrent.
The submarine-based deterrent operates out of the Faslane nuclear base on the Clyde and removing it from Scotland is key plank of the SNP's independence agenda.
In an interview with the PA news agency, he said: “No, (the party position has not changed). Absolutely not at all, because there is a threat to the world from nuclear weapons.
“The idea that having nuclear weapons provides a deterrence that removes that threat is far-fetched, to say the least.”
Blackford also rejected claims put forward by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace that an independent Scotland would be more vulnerable to terrorism threats and Russian aggression if it became independent.
He said: “Well, I think he makes a lot of wrong assumptions. One of the wrong assumptions that he makes is that Scotland would be standing alone. Scotland wouldn’t be standing alone.”
Blackford added: “The SNP Scottish government is very clear that an independent Scotland, amongst other things, would seek to be a member of Nato. We would be alongside our friends or partners in the Western world, and we would want to make sure that we’re taking our responsibilities for defence and security just as any other independent country does.”
On whether an independent Scotland would be able to join Nato, Blackford appeared positive given its “strategic importance”.
He said: “I think Nato made it clear that it seeks to work with those that apply for membership. And I think given our strategic importance, and our desire to be a constructive voice within the family of nations of Nato… just as we would be back in Europe as well.
“Let’s not forget the importance of defence and security in Europe. I look forward to the constructive discussions that we will have.”
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