Possible Locations of Trident Submarine Bases

States or France in the event of Scottish independence under government
contingency plans. Officials have considered a range of options in the
event of a Scottish breakaway, from relocation to securing a long-term
lease at their present sites on the west coast of Scotland. A long-term
lease would effectively create a British territory within the borders of a
separate Scotland, the Financial Times said.

 Times 2nd Sept 2021

 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trident-nuclear-submarines-could-move-to-us-if-scots-break-away-9j8js0bff

 Scotsman 2nd Sept 2021

 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/reports-trident-nuclear-subs-could-be-moved-abroad-in-event-of-scottish-independence-3368028

 Mail 2nd Sept 2021

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9949427/Plans-place-nuclear-weapons-overseas-Scotland-gains-independence-report-claims.html

 Mirror 1st Sept 2021

 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/uk-drawing-up-plans-move-24889787

 Evening Standard 1st Sept 2021

 https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/mod-scottish-nicola-sturgeon-government-royal-navy-b953329.html

 The UK Government denied claims there are plans to move the UK nuclear
deterrent, after reports of secret contingency plans for the submarines in
the event of Scottish independence. The UK’s nuclear submarines are
housed at Royal Navy bases in Coulport and Faslane on the west coast of
Scotland, but “senior officials” have told the Financial Times that
secret plans could see them moved to naval bases in the US or France if
Scotland voted yes in a second referendum.

 Herald 2nd Sept 2021

 https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19553222.mod-denies-secret-plans-move-nuclear-subs-event-scottish-independence/

 THE UK has drafted contingency plans to move the Trident nuclear submarine
base from Scotland to the United States or France if Scotland becomes
independent, according to a new report. The “secret” proposals were
revealed by the Financial Times and highlight fears in Whitehall that
Scotland is set to leave the Union behind. The plans being considered by
Boris Johnson’s UK Government aim to find alternatives to the nuclear
base in Faslane and Coulport.

 The National 2nd Sept 2021

 https://www.thenational.scot/news/19552604.uk-governments-secret-plans-trident-independence-revealed/

See below for comment from Stephen Bush, New Statesman political editor, in his Morning Call newsletter, under the heading No Nukes Is Good Nukes.

Herbert Eppel
07808 967196
www.HETranslations.uk

Good morning. Farewell to arms? The Ministry of Defence is drawing up contingency plans to move Trident overseas in the event that Scotland votes for independence, the FT has revealed.

The Ministry of Defence has responded with a curt tweet: “contrary to a recent press report, the nuclear deterrent and the thousands of jobs which support it are staying in Scotland”. Now, you don’t need to be Hercule Poirot to notice that this statement is many things, but what it isn’t a denial of the contents of the story in any material way.

Now, in many ways, the story is that rare thing – a revelation about the government doing its job properly and planning for future risks and shocks. It’s certainly possible that Scotland will vote to go its own way, and of course, at that point, the future location of the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s nuclear deterrent would be in some doubt. It would be highly irresponsible if government officials weren’t planning contingencies for that event.

But one issue is that, inevitably, from time to time, details of those plans are going to emerge into public view. Seen one way, that might be a problem for the cause of Scottish independence, if the consequence is a series of big stories about disruptive change and the costs of a break-up. But it equally might help the cause of Scottish independence if the combined effect is to make separation seem like a matter of when, not if.