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Holyrood to debate Trident future |
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Wednesday, 13 June 2007 |
The Scottish Parliament will debate the future of Trident nuclear submarines in Scotland on Thursday in a Green-led parliamentary debate.
A Green motion lodged by Patrick Harvie MSP congratulates the majority of Scottish MPs who opposed the renewal of Trident at Westminster earlier this year, and draws upon the wording of the Westminster amendment which was supported by Liberal Democrat, SNP, and Labour MPs, calling upon the UK government “not to go ahead at this time with the proposal in the White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent.”
In the Westminster vote on March 14 all 6 SNP and all 55 Lib Dem MPs who voted, voted against the UK government's decision to replace Trident, with the support of 94 Labour MPs.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “Renewal of Trident would be immoral, illegal, unnecessary, wildly expensive and against the clear wishes of most Scots and their elected representatives in both Parliaments. In Scotland, the Parliament has a right to add its voice to those of the majority of Scottish MPs who are opposed to the UK Government's commitment to weapons of mass destruction.
“If it is argued that we must have this system as insurance against an as yet unidentified rogue state in the future, then that is an argument for all countries to be able to acquire such weaponry – and that is quite simply a strategic nonsense given the need to build peace and security worldwide.”
The Greens propose using Scottish devolved responsibilities to uphold international law and to protect the health and welfare of Scottish citizens by preventing the movement of weapons of mass destruction on Scotland's roads and seas.
Harvie added: "We can use Scots law to block the movement of chickens because of bird flu and the risk to public health. We can do the same for a weapon capable of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and contaminating vast areas of the globe with deadly radioactive material.
"Trident’s replacement is completely irresponsible in the post-Cold War world. The argument that we need Trident as the 'ultimate defence' is absurd - it is the ultimate bad example to set to the rest of the world. Scotland should become world-renowned for its peaceful intentions and commitment to nonviolence - not as a country which aids and abets the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 June 2007 )
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