SNP SEIZE ON TREASURY AND MOD TRIDENT DISPUTE

SNP SEIZE ON TREASURY AND MOD TRIDENT DISPUTE

WHY SHOULD SCOTS PAY FOR LONDON PARTIES' NUCLEAR OBSESSION?

Seizing on reports of a dispute between the Treasury and Ministry of
Defence over who will pay for Trident renewal, SNP Westminster leader
and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said the battle underlined
how renewal of the nuclear weapons scheme was unaffordable, and warned
over the threat to spending on conventional defence equipment.

It is understood the Treasury expects the bulk of the £100bn capital
expenditure for Trident to now come out of the Ministry of Defence's
(MoD) core budget – a move that would have serious implications for
defence spending in conventional areas.

Mr Robertson said:

“This is the kind of waste of money the SNP highlighted at the recent
election. Absorbing the cost of Trident into the core defence budget
would either have a devastating impact for spending on conventional
forces, which are already overstretched, or just lead to more damaging
cuts. The implications of this dispute could not be more serious and
totally change the context of the current strategic defence review.

“The strategic review is about choices for the future and prioritising
our defence needs in a changed world. Conventional forces, which have
already been cut back, should not be forced to compete with Trident
for resources.

“Anyway that you look at it; on moral, economic or political grounds,
renewal of these weapons of mass destruction is untenable.

“The SNP believe it should be scrapped and more so, at a time when
public spending faces savage cuts across the board, the time has come
to accept that Trident can no longer be treated as some sacred cow.
The majority of Scots oppose Trident along with the Scottish
Parliament and civil society. In these financially difficult times why
should Scots pay for the London parties' obsession with weapons of
mass destruction?”