Scotland's secession will damage UK's defense capabilities – British Navy chief
15 April 2014, 16:07 -- Scotland's possible secession form the United Kingdom, if approved at the September independence referendum, will weaken the UK's defense capabilities, chief of the British Navy, First Lord of the Sea Admiral George Zambellas, wrote in his comments in The Telegraph.
Scotland's independence will, in the admiral's opinion, 'fundamentally change maritime security for all of us in the United Kingdom', but Scotland itself, he said, risks being hurt even more as it will 'no longer have access of right to the security contribution of one of the finest and most efficient navies in the world'.
Scottish independence will harm the security of both Scotland and Britain, Sir George warned, but Scotland will be deeper affected by the 'carve-up' of the shared Navy, including the bases, infrastructure and personnel, whereas Britain will eventually adapt and cope with the impact.
Currently deployed in Scotland are four nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-capable Trident ballistic missiles as well as 16 warships and diesel-powered submarines of the British Navy.
In case of a 'yes' vote in the September 18 referendum, Scotland will officially proclaim independence from Britain on March 24, 2016, after completing secession formalities.
Scotland became part of the United Kingdom under the Act of Union with England, signed in 1707.
Scottish nationalists mark 160-day countdown to independence vote
Scottish nationalists to hold peaceful gatherings this weekend to mark 160-day countdown to their dream of independence from the UK. Under the conference slogan 'Forward,' the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) will hammer home its message that oil-rich Scotland can be a prosperous nation that decides its own future if it votes on September 18 to end the 307-year annexation with England.
A year ago, the chance that Scotland's 5.3 million people would vote to leave the United Kingdom looked slim, with support for a break stagnant at just 30 percent.
But opinion polls this year have narrowed the gap, buoying the SNP before the two-day gathering in the oil capital Aberdeen, its last big meeting before the referendum. The 'No' to independence side has warned against complacency.
'Everyone now realises that at the very least it will be close,' Blair Jenkins, a former TV executive who is heading the 'Yes Scotland' campaign for independence, told Reuters.
'In the course of this long campaign the concept of independence has become normalised. Whatever the result in September, we now have a generation hooked on discussing policies and what kind of society we can be.'
Political experts said the SNP, which dates back 80 years, has focused on policy issues - with the none of the national identity debates seen in other breakaway aspirants such as Quebec in Canada or Catalonia in Spain.
Key policies under discussion include how independence would affect the economy, making Scotland nuclear-free, European Union membership, and the currency. The main British political parties reject a Scottish government proposal to share the pound.
Two polls released on Thursday confirmed the gap between the Yes and No sides has narrowed to about 13 percentage points from 22 points a year ago.
A Survation poll found voters planning to back independence had dropped two points to 37 percent in the past month while support for a No vote was down to 47 percent from 48 percent.
A separate poll by Panelbase carried out for the Yes Scotland campaign put support for a Yes vote at 40 percent compared to 45 percent for staying in the United Kingdom, with 15 percent of voters still undecided.
'The Yes side has made progress this winter and the race is narrowing but to how narrow we still don't know,' said John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde.
'Activists will be hoping that (SNP leader Alex) Salmond gives the speech of his life. It is certainly not an opportunity he can afford to waste.'
Salmond will address the party conference on Saturday.
The UK parties oppose Scottish independence, arguing that the United Kingdom is better and stronger together.
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