SNP says Trident policy unchanged
Iran Press TV
Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:42AM GMT
The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) has reaffirmed that it sticks to the pledge to remove Trident nuclear weapons system from Scottish soil if Scotland gains independence from Britain in the 2014 referendum.
SNP made the clarification after its leader and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond appeared to have suggested that any move on Trident could be put off until 2016.
Salmond had suggested on BBC's Andrew Marr show that Trident will not be removed from Scotland before a new SNP government is formed.
"The time period for their removal: once Scotland became independent and after, of course, people have elected their first government in an independent Scotland, but if it were to be an SNP government then we would ask the submarines to be removed from Scotland as soon as was safely possible," Salmond said.
Supporters of Scottish independence, including many SNP voters, are fiercely opposed to keeping Trident in Scotland after a likely independence.
A pledge for removal of the nukes was made by SNP leaders in the statements they made after launching the campaign for secession from Britain.
A SNP spokesman has denied any change in policy stressing "the position on Trident is entirely unchanged".
"And Trident would certainly be part of negotiations following a Yes vote. Trident could only be removed from Scotland once Scotland becomes an independent country, and SNP policy on that is clear, which is at the earliest possible safe moment," the spokesman added.
AMR/HE
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