11.07.13
Faslane could be kept as sovereign UK territory
A Scottish naval base could be retained as UK territory if the public vote ‘yes’ in the independence referendum, to be held in 2014.
Faslane Trident nuclear base could be given sovereign territory status, the Guardian has reported, to maintain access for the Trident fleet.
The MoD suggested it was “an interesting idea”.
A Government source told the newspaper: “It would cost a huge amount of money, running into tens of billions of pounds, to decommission Faslane.
“Those costs would be factored into any negotiations on an independence settlement. The sovereign base area is an option – it is an interesting idea because the costs of moving out of Faslane are eye-wateringly high.”
But Angus Robertson, SNP party's leader at Westminster, said: “Neither the people nor parliament of Scotland want nuclear weapons dumped here, and we are clear that Trident would have to be removed as quickly as possible.”
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Image c. Danny Lawson/PA Wire