Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed she would demand the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent be scrapped as the price of SNP support for a minority Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn.
The SNP leader said she had a ‘moral objection to weapons of mass destruction’ and Mr Corbyn would have to agree to get rid of Britain’s nuclear missiles for her party to prop him up.
Ms Sturgeon said the SNP would seek to capitalise if it is in a ‘position of influence’ after polling day on December 12.
Opinion surveys suggest the Tories are on course to win a majority at the general election but some people believe Mr Corbyn could spring a surprise and Labour could emerge as the largest party.
However, few believe Labour can win an outright majority which means Mr Corbyn could be reliant on the support of other parties in order to take power.
Ms Sturgeon today made clear she would be willing to work with Mr Corbyn as she set out her demands in full.
Nicola Sturgeon today said she has a ‘moral objection to weapons of mass destruction’ as she said the SNP would demand Trident be scrapped in talks with Labour
The Scottish First Minister was asked on Sky News this morning if scrapping Trident would be a ‘red line’ during potential talks with Labour and she replied: ‘Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
‘That is another matter that we would absolutely be firm about and that is tied, if you like, to some of these other policies.
‘I will be very clear, I have a moral objection to weapons of mass destruction.
‘Unlike Jo Swinson I would not be prepared to press a nuclear button that would kill potentially millions, tens of millions, of people.
‘But there is also the opportunity costs of Trident. The billions, tens of billions of pounds, that are required to renew Trident in my view are better spent on stronger conventional defence that is more effective to protect our country but also on hospitals and schools and better social security provision.
‘These are the choices we should be thinking very carefully about and if the SNP is in that position of influence then these are absolutely the kinds of policies that we will pursue.’
Asked to confirm that abolishing nuclear weapons would be a ‘red line’ during talks with Mr Corbyn, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘I thought I was crystal clear on that. I have been campaigning against Trident for all of my life.
‘So yes, that is absolutely a key position that the SNP would have in any discussions about supporting a minority Labour government.’
The SNP would also demand the right to to hold a second Scottish independence referendum, devolution of more powers to Holyrood and a ‘real end’ to austerity.
Ms Sturgeon’s remarks on Trident put her on a collision course with Labour after the party recommitted to the renewal of the nation’s nuclear deterrent in its 2019 general election manifesto.
Jeremy Corbyn is opposed to the Trident nuclear deterrent but Labout has committed to its renewal in its election manifesto
MPs voted to renew Trident in July 2016. Pictured is HMS Victorious off the west coast of Scotland in 2013. It is one of four UK submarines currently tasked with carrying Britain’s nuclear missiles
Despite Labour’s stance on the issue, Mr Corbyn is a long-standing and vocal opponent of nuclear weapons and would personally back abolishing them.
Earlier this month he signalled he would be willing to scrap Trident as he said the UK’s missiles ‘would be part’ of any future ‘nonproliferation treaty discussions’.
MPs voted in July 2016 to renew Trident as they gave the green light to building four new replacement submarines to carry the UK’s nuclear missiles.
Labour MPs were given a free vote on the issue and the majority backed renewal but Mr Corbyn voted against maintaining Britain’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
In the past Mr Corbyn has explicitly ruled out deploying nuclear weapons, even if the UK was attacked.
