Embarrassment for Cameron as Former Defence Secretary Pours Scorn on Nuclear Claims

David Cameron was facing derision today after a former Tory Defence Secretary poured scorn on his claims that the threat of North Korea justified paying up to £100 billion to replace Trident.

During his visit to Scotland earlier this week, David Cameron claimed that “the fact is North Korea does have nuclear technology that is able to reach the whole of the United States. If they are able to reach the whole of the United States, they can reach Europe too. They can reach us, too.”

However, the Prime Minister’s statement of ‘fact’ flies in the face of expert opinion which has concluded that the idea that a North Korean nuclear weapon could reach the United States, let alone Europe is “extremely unlikely”.

Former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo is quoted in today’s Times (Friday) describing the idea that the UK would use nuclear weapons against North Korea as “absurd” and poured scorn on the idea that “Germany and Italy are trembling in their boots because they don’t have a nuclear deterrent”. Michael Portillo also restated his opposition to renewing trident, saying “I don’t believe in the modern world it is necessary for Britain to have one”.

A decade ago in the run up to the Iraq war, Tony Blair claimed that Iraq was capable of launching an attack with weapons of mass destruction at 45 minutes’ notice to in order to justify invasion. No evidence of such weapons was ever found.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bill Kidd who is a Co-President of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), said:

“David Cameron’s bizarre comments yesterday are beyond belief, and have rightly been met with outright derision.

“It is simply nonsense to try to argue that North Korea’s behaviour justifies wasting up to £100 billion on new Trident nuclear weapons, and even Michael Portillo, a former Tory Defence Secretary, has described David Cameron’s claims as ‘absurd’.

“Ten years on from Tony Blair’s dodgy dossier, and it seems another Westminster Prime Minister is determined to use inflated threats of WMDs to justify his own ends.

“Where Tony Blair was determined to distort facts to justify invasion, David Cameron seems to be following suit to justify wasting up to £100 billion on a new generation of Trident weapons of mass destruction to be dumped on the Clyde for another 50 years.

“Polls show that four- fifths of people in Scotland do not want weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde - our Parliament has voted against Trident - and no amount of scaremongering from David Cameron will change these facts.

“With the anti-independence No campaign firmly committed to nuclear weapons, the only way in which Scotland can rid itself of Trident is with a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in September 2014.”

Notes:

• Michael Portillo’s comments can be viewed on page 8 of today’s Times [online a subscription may be required]
• Expert opinion making clear that North Korea is incapable of a nuclear strike on the USA can be viewed at http://www.reuters.com/
• Details of the recent poll which found 80% of people in Scotland are opposed to replacing Trident can be viewed at http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/

Scottish Labour Leader Backs Trident Over Scotland's Social Gains

The SNP have seized on confirmation from Scottish Labour – after a year of silence from Johann Lamont – that her party favours retention of the Trident nuclear weapons system.

News of the Labour leaders position, which exposes a split in Ms Lamont’s party in Scotland, was revealed in response to an enquiry by BBC Scotland’s Derek Bateman programme today (Saturday).

The SNP expressed amazement at Ms Lamont’s commitment to spending hundreds of millions of pounds on Trident renewal at the same time as the party has established a cuts commission which threatens key services including prescriptions, higher education, apprenticeships and the council tax freeze.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bill Kidd who is a Co-President of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), said:

"After a year of silence, Labour in Scotland has confirmed it wants to retain these obscene weapons while slashing vital services that really matter to people.

"Johann Lamont's Cuts Commission is attacking universal benefits and her remarks about Scots living in a 'something for nothing country' while backing Trident shows just how out of touch Labour really is.

"Labour lost its way on social justice a long time ago but this commitment to spend billions on WMDs while wanting to cut vital services is a new low for a party that once prided itself on representing hard working people.

“The £163m that Scotland is currently paying towards Trident could be spent on 3,880 nurses, 4,527 teachers or a host of new schools and hospitals in our communities. This is even before we consider the extra £84 million a year that is proposed we spend on its replacement over the next 15 years.

"Ms Lamont is now in direct opposition to the politicians she is supposed to be in charge of - including her own MSP Neil Findlay and deputy leader Anas Sarwar and his MP colleague Ian Davidson.

“With this leadership shambles it is no wonder Labour members in Scotland are now looking at the merits of voting Yes in the independence referendum and have formed the 'Labour for Independence group'.

“It is now clearer than ever that only the SNP stands for a fairer society and stronger Scotland and only a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in 2014 will see Trident removed from our waters."

Lamont Challenged to Reveal Stance as Coalition Trident Split Exposed

With the UK Government publically exposing the internal rifts in the coalition on replacing Trident, Johann Lamont has again been challenged to come clean on her views on nuclear weapons.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond’s announcement of £350 million towards a replacement for Trident was met with accusations by Nick Clegg that he was “jumping the gun”.

The UK Government’s coalition agreement makes clear that a decision on replacing Trident will not be made during the current UK Parliamentary term, but that has not prevented major public funds being committed to laying the groundwork for a new generation of weapons of mass destruction.

Following a summer of silence in which Johann Lamont’s refusal to go public with her views on Trident became increasingly bewildering, the leader of Labour in Scotland has been repeatedly challenged to reveal her views.

During her leadership campaign, Johann Lamont was the only candidate who refused to answer questions from the CND on her stance on nuclear weapons.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bill Kidd who is a Co-President of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) said:

“Johann Lamont might like to think that she can stick to the shadows and duck this issue, but it is simply not tenable for her to remain silent while all the other parties set out their position.

“If the UK coalition is willing to go public with their internal splits on this issue, why can’t Johann Lamont just be upfront with people in Scotland?

“Does she support the basing of weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde and is she in favour of wasting billions of pounds on replacing Trident?

“It is a ludicrous situation when we have heard more about the future of nuclear weapons on the Clyde from the LibDems, the Tories and even the Labour party in Wales than we have from Johann Lamont.

“The fact is that Scotland simply does not want these horrific weapons to remain in our waters and only a Yes vote in 2014 will see them removed.”

Note: Details of Johann Lamont’s silence on her stance on nuclear weapons can be viewed at
http://banthebomb.org/ne/images/stories/pdfs/scotlabourtrident.pdf

SNP Welcome Scottish Affairs Committee Report

INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND COULD BE NUCLEAR FREE ‘IN MONTHS’
The SNP are today (Thursday) welcoming confirmation from the Scottish Affairs Committee that with independence Scotland can become nuclear free within months.

A committee report produced in Westminster states:

“The UK’s entire nuclear deterrent is based and serviced in Scotland.

The Committee has heard in evidence that nuclear weapons in Scotland could be disarmed within days and removed within months.”

Commenting, SNP MSP Bill Kidd – a member of the Council of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament - said:

“These findings are to be welcomed, and only enhance the case for an independent Scotland where we can move forward towards a country free from Trident nuclear weapons.

“Trident is not wanted in Scotland, and never has been – yet the UK Government are proposing to waste £100 billion dumping another generation of Trident nuclear weapons on the River Clyde. With independence, we can ensure that Scotland's share of the money wasted on Trident is diverted to building a stronger and fairer society.

“The vast majority of MSPs, as well as the churches, trade unions, and civic society across the nation totally oppose Trident nuclear weapons being based in Scotland. A key advantage of independence is that it is the only constitutional option which gives Scotland the powers to have Trident removed from Scottish waters. And the SNP also propose a specific ban on basing nuclear weapons in Scotland in the written constitution of an independent Scotland.

“While the Lib Dems in the Tory-led UK Coalition have abandoned their opposition to Trident renewal, it is quite clear that the people of Scotland remain overwhelmingly opposed to a new nuclear weapons system on the Clyde.”

Over Half Of Voters Happy With SNP Government

SNP APPROVAL RATINGS SOAR THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE

New information from an Angus Reid poll reported in this weekend’s Sunday Express shows voter approval ratings for the SNP Government sitting at 56%.

Welcoming the poll SNP MSP Bill Kidd said the results are a sign of the trust between the SNP and the people of Scotland.

Commenting on the poll, Mr Kidd said:

Bill Kidd MSP
Anniesland, Glasgow

“This is more good news for the SNP and is a sign of our continuing partnership with the people of Scotland.

“45% of Scottish voters backed the SNP in May and, as we deliver our ambitious programme for government, that support has risen and is continuing to rise.

“It’s fantastic to know that over half of the people of Scotland think the SNP is performing well and are supportive of our policies to make Scotland a more prosperous nation.

“The SNP is the only party sharing in the ambitions of the people of Scotland to make their country better.

“With the SNP Government setting out a bold plan for the year ahead and a new strategy to continue the growth in our economy we have a lot of work ahead.

“The next few years will be an exciting time for Scotland as we look towards our nation’s future. We have Scotland’s interests at heart and, as Alex Salmond said last week, the people trust us to take Scotland further on its journey.

“The SNP Government will continue to work alongside the Scottish people to deliver policies that will boost jobs and the recovery, as we take steps to make Scotland better.”

Very well 23%
Well 33%
Neither well or poorly 29%
Poorly 10%
Very poorly 5%

TOTAL WELL 56%
TOTAL POORLY 15%

± Rating +41%