Global Security Newswire

The British ballistic-missile submarine HMS Victorious departs from the naval installation at Faslane, Scotland, in an undated photo. The United Kingdom could seek remuneration from Scotland should the territory achieve independence and expel British nuclear deterrent components, officials said on Saturday (AP Photo/British navy).

The United Kingdom would press Scotland to help fund the transfer of British ballistic-missile submarines and nuclear warheads from Scottish locations should the territory secede and evict the deterrent components, government sources told the London Express on Saturday (see GSN, Dec. 21, 2011).

The Scottish National Party, which plans a public vote on independence in 2014, has received wide support for its pledge to expel British nuclear weapons from a self-governing Scotland, according to the newspaper.

The British government in 2006 began laying the groundwork for such an eventuality, a Defense Ministry source said on Saturday. An eviction would force the United Kingdom to replace its submarine and nuclear warhead holding sites near Coulport, Scotland.

“Coulport is a major piece of infrastructure and it would cost billions to replace," one government source said. “There would certainly have to be discussions about the cost of moving that infrastructure.”

In addition, London would seek remuneration for an attack-submarine docking site under construction at nearby Faslane, the insider said.. 

A new ballistic-missile submarine home port could be located at Plymouth or another location, according to the newspaper. Construction of the new facilities would require no less than a decade, and the submarines and related personnel could remain in Scotland for that period.

“The new Scottish state would be under pressure to agree to this because it would need London’s goodwill to help it gain membership of the European Union,” said Malcolm Chalmers, an expert with the Royal United Services Institute.

Scottish National Party defense spokesman Angus Robertson said any “bullying” on the matter would not succeed. “Weapons of mass destruction are not wanted in Scotland, and never have been,” he said.

A representative for First Minister Alex Salmond said, “Scotland has given away [$384.4 billion] of oil revenues to Westminster and been given unwanted Trident nuclear weapons in return.

“The U.K. government should have a care, and stop this saber rattling,” the spokesman said (Ben Borland, London Express, Jan. 15).