New RUSI Report questions Faslane as submarine base

[Always_a_Civvy]

It has been reported in today's FT that a new report has been published by RUSI questioning the sense of retaining a base in Faslane for our submarine nuclear deterrent should Scotland elect to become independent in the future.

FT: 29 February 2007, p4.

The report is entitled:

Uncharted Waters: the UK, Nuclear Weapons and the Scottish Question.

Link to RUSI

 

[Maxi_77]

The problem is that this question has TB by the short and curlies. Clearly to spend even more cash on a base you may have to withdraw from is foolish, but if you move out for this reason then you hand a whoopee propoganda coup to the opposition.

To announce that the Trident replacement would operate from say Guz would wipe out what ever hopes TB and chums have of holding onto power in Scotland at a stroke, it would be an admission of defeat. For this reason I expect TB and that nice chap Gordon to continue to pour cash into Faslane for the forseeable uture.

 

[janner]

Interesting to read the Greenpeace website and see how many MSP's are against Trident. Move the lot to Guz and blame the MSP's

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

I agree Peter, that it would not be politically possible for Labour to disinvest in Faslane. Nor do I think it is certain that a majority for vote in favour of full independence for Scotland if given the choice in a seperate referendum.

Steve.

 

[phil1972]

I thought the crap weather in Faslane meant it was more suitable to keep the bombers up there, or has high tech negated that value?

 

[Maxi_77]

I thought the crap weather in Faslane meant it was more suitable to keep the bombers up there, or has high tech negated that value?

Faslane was selected for two reasons, it wasn't in England, and they wanted to use the pool of uneployed shipyard workers as the clyde yards closed down.