SCOTTISH Secretary Ian Murray has performed a screeching U-turn on his support for a global ban on nuclear weapons – instead suggesting he is “proud” that Scotland is home to the Trident system.
The top Labour MP has been accused of trying to “save his own political bacon” with the sudden about-face, which brings his position on nuclear weaponry into line with Keir Starmer and the UK Government’s.
Just last month, Murray said in an email to Janet Fenton, the co-vice chair of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, that he was a “proud signatory” to a pledge to work towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons – and that he would push the UK Government to attend a UN summit on the issue which is taking place this week in New York.
READ IN FULL: Ian Murray's letter supporting global ban on nuclear weapons
It is understood that, after his letter to Fenton, the chief executive of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Melissa Parke, personally invited Murray to attend a parliamentarians’ meeting at the UN.
He did not respond – and the Labour Government later dismissed the idea of attending the UN summit on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons out of hand.
Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Murray completed a sharp U-turn on his support for the abolition of nuclear weaponry – while also accusing the SNP of being “all over the place”.
Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid asked: “Does the Secretary of State agree with me that the SNP’s reckless pledge to scrap our nuclear deterrent at Faslane significantly threatens our national security?”
Murray replied: “Indeed, the First Minister is all over the place in terms of defence.
“He suggested that we should increase the 2.5% of GDP on defence spending by scrapping Trident.
“That’s already included in the 2.5% so would have made no difference whatsoever.
“They’re not credible at all on defence in Scotland and I would urge everyone in this House, every single party, to get behind the Prime Minister in our national interest.”
Responding later to a separate question, Murray added: “Scotland needs all its political leaders to proudly stand up for our defence industry.
“Scotland has led the UK on defence, it’s been home to its nuclear deterrent since the 1960s.”
Scottish CND co-vice chair Fenton told The National that she believes it “is Mr Murray that's all over the place”.
She went on: “He needs to make up his mind and show the most basic degree of integrity that you would expect from somebody that's elected to represent you.
“This has just been a cat-and-mouse game of saying one thing and then saying another.
“I remember going to London when the UK parliamentarians first signed up to the [ICAN] pledge and he was quick to sign it, but very slow [to act].
“However, this turnaround on it is just … There is absolutely no way that I can see, whatever kind of spin you put on it, how these statements are in any way compatible.
“It's a disgraceful, utterly disgraceful way of treating constituents and trying to save his own political bacon.”
The Scotland Office has been asked to clarify whether Murray supports nuclear weapons, or stands by the ICAN pledge to which he has put his name.
That pledge states that, by signing, politicians welcome the TPNW as a “significant step towards the realization of a nuclear-weapon free world”.
It goes on: “We share the deep concern expressed in the preamble about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from any use of nuclear weapons and we recognize the consequent need to eliminate these inhumane and abhorrent weapons.
“As legislators, we pledge to work for the signature and ratification of this landmark treaty by our countries, as we consider the abolition of nuclear weapons to be a global public good of the highest order and an essential step to promote the security and well-being of all peoples.”
