Suggestion that an independent Scotland might lease Trident base to England

Posted: 30th September 2020

An independent Scotland should finance its own defence forces by leasing
military bases and charging the rest of the UK for housing nuclear weapons
on the Clyde, a new paper has recommended. The document produced by defence
analyst Stuart Crawford, who once advised the SNP on military matters, and
the economist Richard Marsh suggested Trident should remain at Faslane
until an alternative base is built outside Scotland. The
independently-produced paper warned the four submarines which carry the
missiles would have to stay in Scottish waters for “perhaps up to” 20
years, a prospect that would anger the SNP grassroots, which is
passionately opposed to nuclear weapons. Its authors said an independent
Scotland could charge £200 million per year to retain Trident. The
proposal is at the heart of the document Could an independent Scotland
defend itself Scot-free?, which also recommended leasing the Lossiemouth
airbase to the RAF and Nato.

Dundee Courier 29th Sept 2020

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1614202/would-charging-rest-of-uk-to-keep-trident-at-faslane-be-nuclear-option-for-an-independent-scotland/

Times 30th Sept 2020

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/lease-faslane-to-back-uk-and-pay-for-independent-scotlands-defence-say-experts-8pj8j2qjq