nuclear-news

Scottish independence would mean moving Trident nuclear base

The vast majority of MSPs [members of the Scottish parliament], as well as the churches, trade unions, and civic society across the nation totally oppose Trident nuclear weapons being based in Scotland 

Scots’ breakaway plan threatens nuclear base, FT.com By James Blitz, 13 Jan 12 Contingency plans to transfer Britain’s nuclear deterrent to England if Scotland declares independence are being examined by the Ministry of Defence.

Officials warn that London would demand billions in compensation from Edinburgh to fund the move. As Scotland prepares for a referendum on independence in the autumn of 2014, MoD officials said they had been studying the implications of a Yes vote for the deterrent – Trident nuclear missiles, carried by four Vanguard class submarines that operate from Faslane Naval Base in the Firth of Clyde.

Officials warn that the costs of moving the four submarines from Scotland to England would be immense, mainly because the London government would need to build a new storage facility for the nuclear warheads carried by the Trident D5 missile.

The warheads are currently stored at a facility at Coulport, near Faslane. “Coulport is a major piece of infrastructure and it would cost billions to replace,” an MoD official said. “There would certainly have to be discussions about the cost of moving that infrastructure, which would be phenomenal.”

The MoD’s plans to base a new fleet of seven Astute class submarines at Faslane from 2017 would also have to be scrapped if Scotland were to break away. The MoD is building a new jetty at Faslane for the Astute submarines and would seek compensation from Edinburgh for this as well.

A second Whitehall official said the implications of Scottish independence for the nuclear deterrent have been under discussion at the MoD since publication of the last white paper on Trident in 2006…..

January 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK