Defending policy
When I joined the party as long ago as 1970 its defence policy was predicated on a dual commitment to remove nuclear weapons from Scottish soil, while retaining Nato membership, and this was a policy which, as an SNP Westminster parliamentary candidate at both the October 1974, and May 1979 general elections, I personally was perfectly happy to defend.
It is a matter of historical record that the party did not adopt its present anti-Nato as well as anti-nuclear policy until the 1981 Aberdeen conference when the influence of its left-wing, self-styled “socialist and republican” 79 Group was at its peak.
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Hide AdIf the party was now to change its policy to a pro-Nato stance in line with the current leadership’s preference it would simply be reverting to its earlier – and in my view more sensible – compromise policy, which would have the added advantage of being closer to the current views of the majority of the Scottish electorate, thereby enhancing the prospects of a Yes vote in the referendum.
Of course, no-one can predict the defence policy of an independent Scotland – or, for that matter, of the UK itself – in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time.
IAN O BAYNE
Clarence Drive
Glasgow