Scottish independence: Military warning over Yes

SCOTTISH independence would make the whole UK more vulnerable to attack, senior military figures have warned.

Senior military chiefs have warned a Yes vote could leave the whole UK more vulnerable to attack. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

In an open letter to The Sun, 14 former forces chiefs insisted a No vote this week is “critical for all our security”.

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“A vote for separation would undermine both Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom’s defence,” the letter says.

“The division of the UK may or may not be politically or economically sensible, but in military terms we are clear: it will weaken us all.”

The letter is signed by seven ex-Chiefs of Defence Staff - Lords Boyce, Guthrie, Inge, Vincent, Stirrup, Craig and Richards.

Three former First Sea Lords have also put their name to it - Lord West, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope and Admiral Sir Jonathan Band - as well as three former Army heads - Lord Dannatt, General Sir Mike Jackson and General Sir Roger Wheeler - and an ex-RAF boss, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns.

The 14 gave short shrift to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond’s plan for a Scottish defence force.

“As former Chiefs of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, we know it is fiction to talk about regional Armed Forces.

“We train as one, fight as one and are under one command. We are not, and have never been, structured for division.”

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