It may have passed you by, it certainly did me, that the Scottish Government unveiled yet another one of its ‘plans’ for the future of Scotland as an independent nation. As the country struggles to educate its children, heal its infirm and launch its ferries, the SNP-led coalition released “An independent Scotland’s place in the world” – a report outlining the proposed foreign policy and defence positions of a theoretical future Scotland.
The report seems to have gone largely unnoticed, like the permanently at sea nuclear deterrent which Scotland, the UK and Europe all benefit from. However, unlike that potent reminder of British hard power which lurks in the depths of the worlds’ oceans, the SNP’s proposals seem about as damp as a puddle in Kelvingrove Park.
It has strung up in the news again after being lambasted by erstwhile soldier and current security Minister, Tom Tugendhat. This weekend, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge, referred to the SNP, quite kindly, as “hopeless” and stuck on a permanent “vanity project.” Referring back to the Sturgeon and Salmond leadership, we can all see the SNP reverting to type by using the arm of the state as a giant, “look over there,” whilst they run the country in the ground.
Consider a few of the SNP proposals. The first is the creation of a 20,000 Scottish Defence Force (15,000 regular and 5,000 reserves). Leaving aside how the SNP would fund this (including recruitment, training schools, equipment and hardware) the contributory factor to any sort of defence in Europe would be de-minimis as they would fall at the lower end of the scale of European militaries – coming out just ahead of Ireland who, we all know, would rely on their position relative to the UK for defence if the Russians crossed the Rhine.
Second is the absurd notion of abandoning the nuclear deterrent. Faslane, where the four Vanguard class submarines are based, and Coulport, where the weaponry is stored, is the second largest single site employer in Scotland. The base is estimated to have nearly 11,000 direct and indirect jobs linked to it – most of which are Scottish taxpayers, admittedly a group that is often ignored by Yousaf et al. This is an area of Scotland which depends on the nuclear deterrent for its local economy, and having spent considerable time in Garelochead, which overlooks the naval base, I can vouch for the amount the area depends on the nuclear capability for its sense of belonging and pride, never mind hard cash.
Thirdly, and linked to the Nuclear Deterrent, is the, typically SNP-generated, absurd notion of not only abandoning the weapons themselves, but then applying to join NATO, the very organisation which depends on the deterrent for its umbrella of cover from a Russian launched nuclear winter. This is really the SNP approach in micro chasm; discarding a brilliant system only to yearn to join another which brings all the same benefits, but for which you bear no responsibility or cost. It really is the coward’s way out.
The Scottish people deserve a lot better than this. Especially from a nation so deeply steeped in marshal tradition, and one which has fiercely defended the United Kingdom over the centuries. Let us not forget the huge contribution of the shipyards of Glasgow to the battles in the Atlantic, for the freedom of Europe and the Far East in the Second World War. Or the gallant fighting of the Scots Guards on Mount Tumbledown in the Falklands War, to secure the strategic strong point for the entrance to Port Stanley and the liberation of the Islands. And even in the more recent conflict in Afghanistan where the Royal Regiment of Scotland lost 23 officers and soldiers in battle, fighting for British values overseas. Indeed it is a sign of Scotland’s huge contribution to British defence that it has 164 winners of the Victoria Cross since its inception.
Scotland should be proud of this record and the rest of the UK grateful to be an integrated partner in our endeavours to project our shared values globally. Do not let a Party, whose very existence relies on sewing division, erode Scotland’s potency in global security, corrode its pride in our Armed Forces, or be a political plaything when Europe’s future is at risk.
Link to original, published in The Telegraph on 19 Mar 2024.
