Scottish parties likely to exploit issue despite no say on policy
HAMISH MACDONELL AND JAMES
KIRKUP 12 Mar 2007
Trident should not be an issue in next month's Holyrood elections. It is, after all, reserved to Westminster and whoever is elected to run the Scottish Executive in May will not be able to change policy on nuclear weapons. But this will not stop some politicians and parties from doing everything to exploit the issue.
The SNP believes that most Scots are against nuclear weapons and against Trident, particularly with the submarines based in Scotland, at Faslane.
The battle against Trident will not form a central part of the SNP campaign, but Nationalists will hope to take advantage of the anti-Trident vote where they can.
The SNP will contest the election primarily on its policies for a devolved administration at Holyrood, but Trident will form part of the SNP's wider case for an independent Scotland.
The Nationalists will point out that an independent Scotland would be able to take its own decisions on nuclear weapons and demand that Trident submarines leave Scottish waters.
A clear example of this came at the end of last week when the SNP issued a press release warning that Trident would "loom large over Labour" in the run-up to polling day.
Alex Salmond issued a statement clearly tying in Trident with the Holyrood elections, showing the direction he wishes to go in the campaign.
The SNP leader declared: "May presents the people of Scotland with a choice of two directions: a continuation down the route of wasting billions on a Trident replacement and ignoring international commitments to rid the world of nuclear weapons; or choosing to take the path of peace and prosperity."
The Labour Party will not be nearly as keen for Trident to become an election issue, and uncomfortable Labour politicians will do everything they can, both to play down the issue and to stress that the Scottish Executive has no power over Britain's nuclear deterrent.
Labour managers know that the Labour movement is split on the issue. Many Scottish Labour voters disapprove of Trident and the policy of replacement backed by both Tony Blair and Jack McConnell.
The Labour Party knows that if Trident becomes an election issue in May, it is the party which will suffer.
For the Tories and the Liberal Democrats, the issue is of less importance. Most Tory voters back the replacement of Trident, so the party is unlikely to lose any support for its support of a replacement of Trident.
The Liberal Democrats are sitting on the fence with a "wait and see" attitude to Trident, so are doing their best to remain out of the argument.
They, and the Tories, will concentrate on devolved issues, aware that they will not suffer even if the arguments over Trident start to impinge on the campaign.
The Scottish Socialists, Solidarity and the Green Party all oppose Trident and will hope to exploit Labour's unease on the issue.
Minister quits over Trident plans
BBC 12 Mar 2007
Deputy leader of the Commons Nigel Griffiths has quit the government in protest at plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.
He resigned "with a heavy heart but a clear conscience" ahead of Wednesday's House of Commons vote on the plan.
Although a Labour rebellion is expected the Tories back renewal of Trident, making a government defeat unlikely.
Jim Devine, a parliamentary private secretary, has also indicated he will resign over the issue.
In a statement after handing his letter in to Number 10 Downing Street, Mr Griffiths, MP for Edinburgh South, said: "I'm resigning with a heavy heart but a clear conscience.
"I intend to make a personal statement in the House of Commons to colleagues and it is only right that they hear the reasons first."
Tory backing
MPs will debate and vote on Wednesday evening on the £20bn plan to replace submarine-based Trident nuclear weapons system.
Ministers say the long lead time in developing and building the replacement submarines means a decision needs to be taken soon on replacing Trident.
Conservative leader David Cameron made clear his support for the plans on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday.
He said: "I think it needs to be done and I've always supported Britain having a nuclear deterrent, so when Trident comes to the end of its life it needs to be replaced."
The Liberal Democrats have said Parliament should not make its decision until at least 2012.
Mr Griffiths, an MP since 1987 and deputy Commons leader since 2005, previously served as a trade and industry minister.
Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), an opponent of Trident renewal, said: "I hope other MPs will follow suit and start leading the UK down the path of nuclear disarmament, not re-armament, on Wednesday."
Alan Mackinnon, chairman of Scottish CND, said: "We welcome the principled stand taken by Griffiths on this crucial issue and we hope his example will be followed by other Labour MPs."
A survey for BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend programme found that out of the 101 Labour MPs who responded, 22 said they supported the renewal of Trident. A total of 64 said they opposed it, and a further 15 remained undecided.
See also
Trident and aides resignations 11-03-07