SNP announces post-independence plans for Scottish defence force

Trident: SNP has historically opposed nuclear weapons.© STV

The SNP has unveiled its defence plans for an independent Scotland with no nuclear weapons.

For the first time, the party has said it would consider remaining part of Nato if Trident missiles were removed from its soil.

Currently, the UK's entire stock of the intercontinental nuclear missile is housed at the Faslane base on the Clyde.

Under the proposals from SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP, Scotland would continue as a member of Nato but Faslane would be decommissioned as a nuclear submarine base and turned into the country's main naval headquarters.

Mr Robertson said that a post-independence Scotland would retain an "appropriate" armed force for the country's size, consisting of 15,000 regular and 5000 reserve personnel.

Meanwhile, the party would house a Scottish air force at Leuchars and Lossiemouth.

A document prepared ahead of the Nationalists' conference in autumn states: "The Scottish armed forces will be focused on territorial defence, aid to the civil power and also support for the international community.

"The Multi Role Brigade structure and interoperable air and sea assets will provide deployable capabilities for United Nations sanctioned missions and support of humanitarian, peacekeeping and peace-making ‘Petersburg Tasks’."

The proposal claims that the Scottish defence force would initially be equipped with "Scotland's share" of current UK assets such as transport aircraft, seagoing vessels, artillery and air defence systems.

It continues: "A Scottish defence industrial strategy and procurement plan will fill UK capability gaps in Scotland, addressing the lack of new frigates, conventional submarines and maritime patrol aircraft."

Mr Robertson said: “As a northern European nation we have domestic and international security responsibilities and obligations including mutual defence. We can deliver on these with properly funded conventional capabilities and without the obscenity of Trident weapons of mass destruction.

"With agreement on the withdrawal of Trident and retaining the important role of the UN, Scotland can continue working with neighbours and allies within Nato.

"By setting out such an ambitious and positive SNP agenda it will be incumbent to other parties to lay out their plans, in as much detail."

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson described the Nato resolution as "staggering" coming from a party "so furiously against the concept of nuclear deterrent".

"First of all the SNP were absolutely opposed to the prospect of joining Nato, then their plans to discuss it over the summer were booted into the long grass," she said.

"Much like its misguided stance on the EU, the SNP seems to think an independent Scotland would be waved through to join Nato automatically if they reverse their decades-long opposition to the Alliance.

"They are making it up as they go along."

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