Scotland + Nuclear Weapons

The British military and political establishments will always use their substantial lobbying and networking resources to maintain their nuclear posture even if the reality is that they are just US clients. They see it as central to their international status.  Independence threatens this since Trident has no viable alternative base in England. So, of course, they will use these lobbying resources publicly and privately, especially if they feel the threat of independence is not going away. One of their main lines is that it would be only reasonable to give the UK a 10-year lease of Faslane/Coulport. Assuming they got that, this lease could constantly be renewed. Anyone in the SNP who wants to go along with the British establishment should remember that opposition to nuclear weapons in Scotland has been policy for 65 years and party members won’t let it be changed. It is entirely unclear how an independence-supporting party could rationally allow UK nuclear weapons to operate in the Clyde in a prospective sovereign Scotland. Would this mean nuclear convoys continuing to run through our towns and cities on a regular basis? Would it mean continued radioactive leakages into the Clyde, as have already been reported? Or would it mean siphoning off chunks of Scotland for unaccountable British military control, like the US currently does in England? It should be obvious that none of these possibilities are remotely acceptable in a potential independent Scotland. UK nuclear weapons on the Clyde are not compatible with genuine Scottish sovereignty. Supporters of independence must therefore keep a very close eye on the pro-indy parties’ policies on nuclear weapons.