Faslane protesters call on SNP to rid Scotland of nuclear deterrent

Published on Tuesday 10 May 2011 14:19

Campaigners blocked access to the Faslane naval base today for two hours in a protest against the Trident nuclear programme.

Members of Trident Ploughshares and Faslane Peace Camp chained themselves together outside the gates of the base on the Clyde.

The activists called on the newly-elected SNP government to fulfil a commitment to "demand immediate disarmament" of the nuclear deterrent.

Janet Fenton, speaking on behalf of Trident Ploughshares, said: "Our actions here are not illegal and are in support of the new Scottish Government.

"Once again the Scottish people have voted overwhelmingly in opposition to nuclear weapons.

"This time, there is a clear parliamentary majority for a single party with a manifesto promise to pressure the UK government to remove these illegal weapons from Scotland."

A Faslane base spokesman said essential services had been maintained and normal functions had not been affected.

Strathclyde Police confirmed they had attended the incident and arrests had been made.

Under the Trident programme, the Royal Navy operates 58 nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missiles and about 200 nuclear warheads on four Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines from Faslane.

At least one of the submarines is on patrol as a continuous at-sea deterrent.