Defence jobs at risk under independence

The SNP has already said that in an independent Scotland the Trident submarines will be removed from the River Clyde. That will be a loss of 8,000 jobs.

So where will the new jobs come from? Even if some new naval positions are created there will still be a massive deficiency.

Doesn’t the SNP understand that the Nimrod programme was scrapped as the aircraft in use were considered dangerous (some actually crashed, killing the crew) and those on order were well behind schedule and not fit for purpose?

What makes the Yes campaign believe that those currently serving in the UK military actually want to come and serve in the military of an independent Scotland?

Why should they give up a position in a universally accepted elite military force to serve in what would be basically a home guard service?

In an independent Scotland, which air force will use Lossiemouth? It can’t be the UK air force as the new Typhoon aircraft have a nuclear capability, therefore will be banned from Scotland.

So what will an independent Scottish air force comprise of in types and number of aircraft? What type of aircraft will be bought and used for maritime patrol?

What will their duties be and what area will it cover? The original Shackleton and Nimrod role was to track foreign submarines and other military transport posing a threat to the UK.

James A Mackie

South Road

Garmouth, Morayshire

The Ministry of Defence, except during the war years, has not placed an order for a complex warship with a foreign country since at least the start of the 20th century.

New Royal Navy combat ships are in an advanced  design stage and the impressive new facilities planned to be built at BAE  Systems in Scotstoun, formerly Yarrow Shipbuilders, will be used to build some of these ships.

If there is independence, there is a tremendous risk of the Clyde losing these much needed orders with the resulting serious loss of skilled jobs in an already greatly  diminished shipbuilding  industry.

Other jobs in many companies in Scotland supplying components for the naval ships could also be affected.

(Sir) Eric Yarrow

Kilmacolm

The headline to Ian Gardner’s letter (9 September) is: “Why throw away our defence security?” Good question. Unfortunately, we have no defence security to throw away. Westminster governments in recent years have taken us into two major wars. One consequence of these wars, acknowledged by the UK government, is that the risk of terrorist action in the UK has increased greatly.

In spite of its willingness to involve us in overseas wars, the UK government has cut our armed forces to the bone, with no regular naval patrols in Scottish waters, destruction by government order of all maritime surveillance aircraft (at enormous cost), and reliance on France for aircraft carrier support.

Would the French aircraft carrier and its aircraft be available to defend the Falklands against another invasion? I doubt it.

The Scottish regiments have been disbanded and survive only as names in the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Scottish coasts are undefended, and not even the Coastguard Service has been spared by the UK government.

Worse, as seen in their policy for the British Army, the UK government seems determined to make us dependent on reservists rather than on regular servicemen.

Ian Gardner tells us that “Russian aircraft and ships… are being seen off by British aircraft and ships”. Last December the Russian aircraft carrier, the 65,000-tonne Admiral Kuznetsov (carrying cruise missiles), two frigates, an ocean-going tug and three oil tankers stayed, without permission, in Scottish waters for 12 days.

A destroyer (from Portsmouth, the only ship available) was sent to escort this flotilla, but not to “see it off” or make it leave our waters. The Faslane nuclear base was at the mercy of Mr Putin’s aggressive Russia and could have been destroyed by a cruise missile, along with a large part of Scotland.

No-one knows when the next war will happen, but I am absolutely sure that it is more likely to happen under a UK government than under a Scottish one.

If the war goes nuclear while Scotland is part of the UK, the current forces available to protect the UK will not prevent Scotland from being destroyed, along with the Faslane base. A No vote is a vote for this nightmare scenario.

JOHN DUFFUS

Mansionhouse Road

Edinburgh

On 18 September, many people in Scotland will exercise their voting right to irreversibly change the way the country is run. They will vote for Scottish independence and sometimes I wish I could join them. But I can’t.

I hope people will think ahead about what independence will mean for our national security. Ian Gardner believes, as I do, that Scottish independence will, in defence terms, greatly weaken the whole of the UK and in the eyes of a watching world. I urge people to read what he has to say.

Each nation’s security is more important than ever, in this politically unstable planet. We all want our grandchildren and future generations to live out their lives safely, knowing they can rely on a United Kingdom continuing to be as strong in defence as it has been for centuries and is now.

Who dares deny that a Yes vote in the referendum will put Britain’s security at risk?

Malcolm W Ewen

Ferryhills Road

North Queensferry