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Cameron’s Trident warning to Salmond

By Campbell Gunn

WESTMINSTER and Holyrood are set to clash over a replacement for Britain’s Trident submarine force if the Tories win the next election.

Tory leader David Cameron has warned Alex Salmond not to interfere in Westminster plans for Britain’s Scottish-based nuclear deterrent.

In the past, Mr Cameron has pledged to work more closely with the SNP leader if he becomes prime minister.

Battle lines

But yesterday, the first battle lines were drawn over the Trident issue.

In an interview with the BBC to mark the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament, to be broadcast today, Mr Cameron warned the SNP not to obstruct a replacement for Trident.

He pointed out that defence was a matter for the UK Government, not Holyrood.

But Mr Salmond hit back, claiming Holyrood was entitled to make its opposition to a Trident replacement known. 

Britain’s Trident nuclear missile submarines are based at Faslane, but the SNP argues nuclear weapons should not be based in Scotland and wants them removed. 

Broad support

Last year it set up an anti-Trident working group, saying there was broad support in Scotland for this stance. 

The Scottish Government has already used Holyrood’s powers over planning to block the construction of any new nuclear power stations north of the Border.

However, they have no powers to prevent the Westminster Government, which has responsibility for defence, from establishing whatever military bases it wishes in Scotland.

Mr Cameron told the BBC programme, Holyrood and the Search for Scotland’s Soul, that defence was a UK issue, and that the Conservatives supported Britain having an independent nuclear deterrent. 

Complaint

“If we’re elected, that’s a mandate we will have to deliver,” he said. 

However, Mr Salmond said his party would campaign against a Trident replacement at every opportunity. 

“I don’t see how there could be a complaint about the Government of Scotland, or the parliament of Scotland, seeking to use its own powers to advance a point of view,” he added. 

“If that missile system is unwanted by the body politic of Scotland, unwanted by Scottish MPs, not wanted by the Scottish Parliament, then surely that Prime Minister would expect the Holyrood Parliament to make its view known.

“The idea that you can base a new generation of nuclear missiles in Scotland, and not talk or listen to the people of Scotland about it, is ridiculous.” 

The proposal for a Trident replacement was approved by the Commons in 2007, but Labour ministers only won the vote with the support of the Conservatives, after 95 Labour MPs voted against the plan.

Costs for upgrading the system are put at around £65 billion.

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