What you need to know about Trident renewal.

1. Scotland opposes Trident renewal
Nuclear weapons have been based in Scotland for almost half a century. This is despite the opposition of the people of Scotland, civic Scotland, the STUC, Scotland’s churches, the Scottish Parliament and most of Scotland's MPs. On 19 July 2016, 58 of Scotland's 59 MPs voted against the decision to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system.

A recent Survation poll found that, excluding people who don’t know, 56 per cent of people in Scotland oppose the renewal of Trident.

2. Trident is financially unjustifiable

The Tory Chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Crispin Blunt, has calculated that the total cost of the next generation of Trident at £179 billion over its lifetime. CND have estimated that the cost may even be as high as £205 billion.

3. At the same time, the UK Government has cut defence jobs in Scotland - year after year.
The Ministry of Defence’s own jobs figures show that between 2010 and 2014, under the previous Tory-led Coalition, defence personnel in Scotland were cut by 3,300 - that’s an 18.7 per cent reduction.

And, if we go back further to 2000, 10,170 jobs have been cut in Scotland, with an overall reduction of 41 per cent - compared to 28 per cent across the UK.

4. Trident doesn’t address modern threats
The biggest threats we face won’t be deterred by new nuclear weapons. Security threats like terrorism, cyber-attacks and climate change are not addressed by Trident.

The gaps that need to be addressed are in areas such as maritime patrol, in ships and aircraft to patrol our waters, as well as conventional defence personnel and equipment. These gaps have emerged as a result of under-investment and cuts by successive UK governments.

5. Possession of nuclear weapons is the exception, not the rule
It is the norm in the world today to be nuclear-free. Of all the countries in the world, just nine possessed nuclear weapons at the start of 2015.


http://www.snp.org/trident_what_you_need_to_know

Two faced Theresa May’s government in meltdown after 24 hours of utter calamity

Theresa May seeks to project the image of a 21st century Iron Lady, but the last 24 hours of political calamity have melted the iron veneer. Resignations, U-turns, gaffes. It has been the omnishambles to end all omnishambles.

When David Cameron came to power in 2010, he promised the public they could ‘Vote Blue, Go Green’. From his cycling to work, to his husky sled trips in Alaska, the new Conservatives were all about keeping our green and pleasant land just that – by recognising the urgency of action on climate change.

In light of this, putting a third runway at Heathrow airport and increasing the air traffic (and therefore pollution) over London and surrounding areas was viewed as pretty inconsistent. David Cameron promised he would oppose a third runway on these grounds, “No ifs, and no buts”. The battle against the Airport Commission which favoured the Heathrow expansion, a large section of the Conservative party, and the former Prime Minister continued until his final days in power.

The two faces of Theresa May

Theresa May has always been a vocal opponent of the third runway. She sent newsletters to her constituents promising to “fight to stop” a third runway at Heathrow, and while Home Secretary, even lobbied the independent Airports Commissioner over environmental risks from the proposed expansion. In 2010, Theresa May celebrated the “victory” of the Cameron government scrapping plans for the third runway. Her opposition continued throughout the Coalition and Cameron governments. Until she became Prime Minister, and gave the project the green light this week.

Worse, her team then attempted to hide all traces of her former opposition to the plans – which sent the media into a tailspin.

Billionaire environmentalist and the Conservatives’ defeated candidate for Mayor of London Zac Goldsmith resigned as a Conservative MP at news the government was pushing ahead with the third runway. He will be standing for his Richmond constituency as an independent candidate, with Conservative MPs vowing not to stand against him.

Goldsmith’s resignation leaves unelected Prime Minister Theresa May with a party divided over grammar schools, Britain’s future in Europe, immigration and the single market, the meaning of Brexit, and now, the expansion of Heathrow too. With a majority of just 10 seats in parliament, and a rejuvenated opposition north and south of the border – May is in big trouble.

Boris Johnson is rumoured to be plotting his own coup based on Heathrow and Brexit, Michael Gove is lurking in the wings like some sort of bespectacled Frank Underwood, there is a growing sense that the wheels are coming off just about everything at the moment – and a divided government, and mutinous parliamentary Labour Party have devolved the most serious discussions to nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales.

If things continue this way, we may be holding a general election sooner than 2020.

http://www.thecanary.co/2016/10/26/theresa-mays-government-meltdown-24-hours-utter-calamity-editorial/

EU’s chief Brexit negotiator and Labour’s Scottish deputy leader agree with Nicola

Scotland’s chances of automatic EU entry got a massive boost yesterday as a by chief Brexit negotiator. Guy Verhofstadt, who will co-ordinate the European Parliament’s response to the UK’s vote to leave, said “an independent Scotland should be let into the EU straight away” he added “If Scotland decides to leave the UK, to be an independent state, and they decide to be part of the EU, I think there is no big obstacle to do tha.t”  He also added that it would be “suicide” for the EU to refuse entry to people who are “sympathetic” to the EU’s aims. Verhofstadt has been a supporter of Scotland’s vote to remain in the EU following June’s referendum.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith last night said Verhofstadt’s appointment meant “all the doors we need are open”, adding: “It’s good news – we can do business. “He is a long-standing respected MEP. Having negotiated Belgian politics, he’ll be able to corral 27 national interests and be pragmatic about solutions. He’s also proven he’s alive to the Scottish question. He’s a clever chap, very astute, and a hard worker capable of seeing the big picture”

Also on the First Ministers side is deputy leader of Scottish Labour has backed Nicola Sturgeon's right to call for a new independence vote. Alex Rowley, Kezia Dugdale's number two, said “he would not oppose" giving Scotland a new vote to leave the UK and accepted that the First Minister had a right to hold one after Brexit.

He added" I have lost count of the number of people that have asked whether I support a second referendum on independence. My response is that I would not oppose such a referendum and accept the SNP were clear in their manifesto that the Scottish Parliament would have the right to hold another one if there was a ‘significant and material change’ in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014 – such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against its will”.

The life of an MP (part 2)

Part 2 First day at Parliament 

Alarm call from reception telling me that its 8 am and room service will bring my breakfast up at 8.15am and my suit has been dry cleaned not bad for service for £200 a night and just round the half a mile from parliament, good job I am claiming it on my expenses.

9am the car and driver to take me to parliament “not too happy about it it’s only a et Jaguar hope no one I no saw me in it I will be ridiculed at the country club”. I’m Looking forward to seen my second cousin not spoke for a few weeks she has been away for a few weeks on her yacht but she will be here today to open Parliament.

Arrive a Parliament been here loads of time to see my father at work so I know my way around the place but some plebe is insisting I need to have a work place induction and guided tour. Got an office with a view of the river, mummy was right if I gave a donation to her cousin David he would get me a good office “I like David nothing dodgy about him my office is very plush” on with induction tour.

Time for training then an hour of learning firstly an hour of learning how to say “here here” using the correct dull tone so as not sound egger or interested in what is been debated.  Secondly if you have to say anything always address other members correctly by calling them “my right honourable gentlemen” or “Mister Speaker”  Thirdly and most important thing to learn is to always have some sort of papers in your hand to wave around when you’re bored. These things are the most important things to do if you have to go into the chamber which will be a very rare event.

Next I’m given my MPs Manuel “great aunt Margret called this her Bible” I have sign a will not let anyone else see the Manuel as it’s a confidential document.  A quick look through it and its 200 pages of what I can claim for and 10 pages of what I can’t claim for and how to appeal if I claim for things I shouldn’t.

Next I meet my servants, a staff of five a personal assistant, sectary, administration assistant, a spin doctor (adviser) and my chauffer for my Jaguar. This is so cool I get to work with some of my friends and family every day.

Now off to see the part of Parliament I will spend the most of the day in the restaurants, bars and gentlemen’s private clubs. Michelin star quality food and drink all you can eat for £10 and you can claim it on your expenses.

I think I’m going like this job and wish I had come here straight after Eden. Instead of jetting around the world having fun for last ten years at mummy and daddy’s expense and the year I spent in that clinic will come in handy when dealing with other MPs as we all come from similar upbringing.