SNP Westminster Trident debate

Huge cost of weapons at time of more Labour / Tory austerity - 'financially stupid and morally repugnant'

In our Opposition day debate in the House of Commons, which is this Tuesday (20th), the SNP will devote it to the subject of the Trident nuclear weapons system. Combining forces with Plaid Cymru and the Greens, the SNP will call for the cancellation of the renewal of the Trident weapons programme.

Labour and the Tories are both committed to renewing the nuclear weapons system - and this is likely to be the last chance for a debate before the general election. It will be an opportunity for MPs from all parties and all parts of the UK to make clear their position on spending £100 billion on Trident at a time of continued austerity, following last week’s Labour/Tory parliamentary alliance in voting for £30 billion more cuts.

Commenting in advance of the debate Angus Robertson MP, SNP Westminster Leader and Defence spokesperson, said: “The general election in May is a massive opportunity to stop Trident in its tracks by voting SNP.

“A strong group of SNP MPs at Westminster will oppose a new generation of nuclear weapons being dumped on the Clyde, and will use any clout we have in a hung parliament to get Trident's renewal scrapped.

“This is in stark contrast to Scottish Labour, who have shown time and again that there is utter confusion between the Scottish branch office and their Westminster bosses. On this issue they are not prepared to take a stand against UK Labour’s pro-nuclear position. One thing we do know is that the Westminster parties just voted for £30 billion more austerity cuts – as 28 Scottish Labour MPs voted to support the Tories' austerity programme.

"In Scotland, only SNP votes and MPs can make a difference - and we are pledged to work with other progressive political forces in the House of Commons to stop both Trident renewal and austerity.

“Nuclear weapons are financially stupid and morally repugnant.

"We have to stop wasting tens of billions of pounds on nuclear weapons – particularly at a time when Tory cuts mean that many families can’t afford to put food on the table - and this debate is a step in the process of getting rid of Trident for good."