UN RESOLUTION SHOULD SEAL FATE ON TRIDENT RENEWAL

UN RESOLUTION SHOULD SEAL FATE ON TRIDENT RENEWAL

BROWN BRANDED INCONSISTENT ON NON PROLIFERATION

Commenting on the historic UN session today (Thursday) which backed calls by US President Barack Obama for an end to nuclear arms and the spread of the technology behind them, SNP Westminster leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angus Robertson MP repeated calls for the UK Government to now genuinely lead the world on non-proliferation - and make real budget savings - by scrapping Trident renewal plans completely.

Mr Robertson said:

“This resolution should seal the fate on Trident renewal. It would not just be inconsistent, but utter madness, if Gordon Brown pushed on with plans to renew the UK’s nuclear system.

“The Prime Minister talks about a roadmap to eliminating nuclear weapons while waving about an expensive blueprint for a new generation of these weapons of mass destruction.

“Gordon Brown has the opportunity to show real international leadership on non-proliferation and make real budget savings in the process. A token reduction in the fleet just doesn’t cut it.

“The fact is that the prime minister has been totally inconsistent on nuclear arms limitation – he is lecturing the world on non-proliferation while simultaneously planning to pay a £2bn down payment on Trident replacement.

“To plow billions into nuclear weapons at the cost of essential frontline services is unforgivable. At a time of economic downturn and substantial pressure on government spending, it is utterly irresponsible to waste up to £100 billion on a new generation of unnecessary and unwanted weapons of mass destruction - dumped in Scotland against the wishes of the Scottish Parliament and a majority of Scottish Westminster MPs.

“Civil society, trade unions, religious organisations and the Scottish Government are working together to keep a new generation of Trident missiles out of Scotland, and this agreement between America and Russia reinforces that argument.”