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British nukes could hamper Scots’ push for independence

Iran Press TV

Wed May 1, 2013 6:26PM GMT

A report by the lower house of British parliament, the House of Commons, has called into question the aspirations of the Scottish government for an independent state free from nukes, local media reported.

The report by Westminster's Foreign Affairs Committee claimed that the Scottish National Party (SNP) government’s desire to witness an independent Scotland free from nuclear weapons could be put back for a generation because of pressure from the UK's international allies.

The committee also claimed that "serious gaps" exist in the Scottish government's prospectus for foreign policy should Scots vote yes to independence in next year's referendum.

"There is a pressing need for more clarity and candour about what Scots would lose and what the Scottish government could realistically deliver in foreign policy terms with the resources available to it", according to the report.

The report also noted that an independent Scotland could damage UK’s popularity internationally in terms of foreign policy.

“If the UK had to relinquish its nuclear deterrent because of Scottish independence, it would be viewed by some as a power in irreversible decline", the report said.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister, branded the report "partisan" and said it was aimed at protecting the interests of the UK.

"As the report and the UK government are primarily concerned with maintaining the UK's international reputation and protecting its position as a nuclear state, perhaps the committee's encouragement that the UK's international reputation will be harmed if it continues to take this attitude will be a lesson to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor", added Sturgeon.

On Trident, the report refers to expert evidence that warned about an independent Scotland moving too quickly to get rid of nuclear weapons, which would "make enemies very quickly".

On the EU, it says membership might be fast-tracked but this would not mean it would be "straightforward or automatic" as it could come up against the vested interests of other member states.

And on NATO, it says automatic membership for Scotland is an "overly optimistic assertion".

MOL/JR/HE