SNP will block nuclear arms in Scotland, Cameron told

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:59

SNP ministers last night served notice to a future Tory government that they would try to use devolved powers to block new nuclear weapons coming to Scotland.

The warning is an escalation of a row started when Conservative leader David Cameron told the SNP they should not interfere with decisions on nuclear weapons such as replacing the Trident missile system.

Sources close to Mr Cameron claimed that his comments in an interview broadcast last night were aimed at trying to promote "the respect agenda" between Westminster and Holyrood.

It was claimed Mr Cameron was giving an example of powers reserved to the UK in which Holyrood should not get involved. In the same interview he made it clear a Conservative government would keep out of devolved issues and not try to reverse Holyrood's decisions.

The comments have sparked a row between the Nationalists and the Conservatives.

Britain's Trident nuclear missile submarines are kept at Faslane on the Clyde but the SNP argues that nuclear weapons should not be based in Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday made it clear that on nuclear weapons his party represented a clear majority view among Scottish MSPs, MPs, civic Scotland and members of the public.

He said it would be wrong of a Scottish Government not to represent those views on the issue.

Last night his spokesman went further, threatening to use devolved powers to block weapons of mass destruction.

The SNP has prevented new nuclear power stations being built in Scotland through the use of devolved powers on planning. Despite calls to have these re- reserved to Westminster the Calman Commission on devolution came down on Holyrood's side.

A working party set up by the Scottish Government to examine how nuclear weapons can be removed from Scotland – which is expected to report later this year – is considering how devolved powers might be used to block a Trident replacement.

The First Minister's spokesman said: "Of course we would use any powers available to us to block any new weapons of mass destruction coming to Scotland. We certainly have a mandate for that in Scotland.

"I'm afraid this is a classic example of the Tories showing themselves in their old colours again of treating Scotland not like a country but an English county."

The Tories said the issue had been blown out of proportion.

A spokesman added: "Mr Cameron was talking about respect for devolved and reserved powers, but once again the SNP have shown that their default position is about burning bridges not building them."