Ross MP brands Trident 'another nail in union coffin'
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A ROSS MP has called the decision to renew the Trident nuclear missile system as "another nail in the coffin for the union".
The House of Commons backed the renewal of the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system by 472 votes to 117 on Monday.
During the debate Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: "I regret that the new Prime Minister has come to the house today and the first thing she has done is to force through a motion committing this country to spending a figure which could be as high as £200 billion over the next few decades on weapons of Mass Destruction.
"When Angus Robertson, Leader of the SNP group at Westminster, asked the Prime Minister for the total cost of replacing Trident she refused to answer. So every MP who voted for renewal also effectively gave this government a blank cheque.
"How can they lecture us on fiscal responsibility when this is so blatently fiscally irresponsible."
All MPs elected to represent Scotland, where the system is based, voted against renewal.
Only Scottish Secretary David Mundell, Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, voted with the Westminster government.
Mr Blackford said: "We on the SNP benches are not prepared to put a price on humanity by backing weapons of mass destruction and all but one of the MPs from Scotland has voted against renewal. Scotland is speaking with a clear voice - we don’t want weapons of mass destruction.
"This is another nail in the coffin of the union. If the house rejects what the people of Scotland want, which is the removal of these weapons from our soil, ultimately my country will be independent and free of nuclear weapons."
