SNP 2017

DEFENCE, SECURITY AND
GLOBAL PEACE-KEEPING
The Tory government has presided over cuts
to the defence estate in Scotland, while
committing billions to a new generation
of Trident nuclear weapons. SNP MPs will
oppose the erosion of the defence estate in
Scotland. We will stand up for Scottish bases,
regiments and our veterans. We will press
for investment in conventional defence. And
we will oppose the immoral and expensive
Trident nuclear weapons system at every
opportunity.
Scrapping Trident
SNP MPs will build a cross-party coalition to scrap Trident as
quickly and safely as possible.
The Tory Chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs
Committee, Crispin Blunt, has calculated the total cost of the
next generation of Trident at £179 billion over its lifetime. CND
estimate the cost may even be as high as £205 billion. We will
vote for that money to be spent on our public services – like
our NHS, schools and expanded free childcare.
At Westminster we will press the UK government to meet their
international obligations with regard to multilateral nuclear
disarmament.
SNP MPs will support long-term investment in HMNB Faslane
as a conventional military base.
Investing in conventional defence
SNP MPs will hold the UK government to its promise on
building the new Type-26 Frigates in Scotland.
SNP MPs will continue to campaign to protect Scotland’s
bases – including Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik, Redford
Barracks in Edinburgh, Fort George near Inverness, and MoD
Caledonia in Rosyth – from closure. We will press the UK
government to engage fully with the Scottish Government,
local authorities and local communities as a matter of urgency.
Scotland’s distinct defence needs are not being met by
the current UK government’s defence policy. SNP MPs will
support a new Strategic Defence and Security Review, in
order to assess the need, as a matter of priority, for permanent
basing of ocean-going conventional patrol vessels in Scotland.
We will press to ensure that the nine multi-role Maritime
Patrol Aircraft on order reach full operational capacity at the
earliest possible stage, and support a review into the need for
additional aircraft.
Fighting international crime and terrorism
International co-operation is essential to keep Scotland and
the rest of the UK safe from the threats of organised crime,
cybercrime and terrorism. SNP MPs will call for continued
co-operation on detecting, disrupting and detaining criminals
across borders through Europol. We will seek assurances that
our law enforcement agencies will continue to have the same
level of access to Europol as they currently enjoy.
We will oppose any moves that would seek to use security
co-operation as as a bargaining chip in Brexit or trade
negotiations with our European friends and neighbours.
Supporting our veterans
Far too often, the UK government has let down our service
personnel and veterans. The SNP will act to ensure the UK
government prioritises the duty of care to service personnel,
veterans and their families, especially in the event of a loss of
a serving relative, and we will press the UK government to put
the Armed Forces representative body on a statutory footing.
To provide practical support for veterans requiring social care,
the Scottish Government changed the rules to ensure the
War Disablement Pension is exempt from the assessment of
income – meaning our veterans get the help they need and
keep the full value of this pension. We believe this approach
42 SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY MANIFESTO 2017