SNP CALL FOR IMMEDIATE STATEMENT ON ATLANTIC NUCLEAR SUBMARINE COLLISION.

SNP CALL FOR IMMEDIATE STATEMENT ON ATLANTIC NUCLEAR SUBMARINE COLLISION.

FRENCH TRANSPARENCY UNDERLINES UK GOVERNMENT SECRECY.

SNP Westminster Leader and Defence Spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, has called for a statement from the UK Government in the wake of reports that a Clyde-based nuclear submarine collided with a French submarine in the middle of the Atlantic.

Both vessels were reported to be carrying nuclear war heads. A Navy source described the potential consequences of the collision as “unthinkable”.

Commenting, Mr Robertson said:

“The UK Ministry of Defence needs to explain how it is possible for a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction to collide with another submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction in the middle of the world’s second largest ocean.

“In contrast to MoD secrecy, the French military authorities publicised details of the incident on a website. The MoD cannot hide behind operational secrecy and must make a statement on this as a priority”.