Labour ‘fully committed’ to Trident renewal

MSP Jackie Baillie has strongly welcomed the announcement from the new Shadow Defence Secretary, Nia Griffith, that Labour remains fully committed to the renewal of Trident.

The MP used an interview with British Forces Broadcasting this week to confirm that she would not try to overturn the decision taken by Labour conference in 2015 to reaffirm the party’s support for the nuclear deterrent.

This means that UK Labour policy on Trident will not be changed despite months of speculation and the party will officially commit to the renewal of all four nuclear submarines.

Jackie Baillie, whose election literature this year highlighted the way she had been attached in some quarters for supporting Trident regardless of her party’s line, said the announcement was a victory for trade unionists and moderate voices in the Labour Party who warned that scrapping Trident would result in tens of thousands of job losses at Faslane and across Scotland.

Jackie spoke in favour of protecting jobs at Faslane and Coulport at the Scottish Labour conference in 2015 and the national conference this summer.

She said today: “This is a very welcome announcement from the new shadow defence secretary that will safeguard local jobs at Faslane and Coulport for years to come and reassure local businesses.

“I am delighted that Nia Griffith has been clear from the very start by putting an end to months of speculation about Labour’s position.

“The base directly employs 6,800 people according to official government figures and a further 4,500 jobs depend on the base indirectly through the supply chain and local spend.

“The total number of jobs is already on the increase thanks to the decision taken when Gordon Brown was Prime Minister to make Faslane the base for the UK’s whole submarine fleet.

“The impact of the base on our local economy cannot be underestimated or brushed aside by the SNP.”