Disarming points

Published on 29/01/2013 00:00

Dr McCormick (Letters, 28 
January) asks: “What would be the benefits of an independent Scotland unilaterally banning the continued presence of our current (Trident) weapons system?” Firstly, it would remove Scotland as a target.

Secondly, it would trigger negotiations for global nuclear disarmament which the nuclear weapon powers declared they would do if the non-nuclear countries signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, the UK and the US have gone back on their promise and hesitated taking the initiative.

Thirdly, it would release the highly skilled workers so urgently in demand elsewhere, such as in the oil industry, and fourthly, it would release the £30 billion earmarked to be spent on replacing this white elephant, continuing the fear it engenders over its declared first use against the dissolved enemy of the USSR.

Lastly, I was pleased at Lesley Riddoch’s reference (Perspective, 28 January) to Labour’s former defence minister, Des Browne, saying that nuclear deterrence as a cornerstone of 
defence strategy was “decreasingly effective and increasingly risky”. Only independence can start the ball rolling.

Ray Newton

Buckstone Way

Edinburgh