THE SCOTTISH National Party has overturned its decades-old opposition to membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, following passionate debate at the party’s conference yesterday.
The motion, finally accepted by 442 votes to 332, declares that Nato membership – if Scotland votes Yes for independence in 2014 – would only happen if the UK’s Scottish-based nuclear force is withdrawn.
Repeatedly during the two-hour debate, senior SNP figures insisted that voters wary of independence had to be convinced that independence would not leave Scotland’s defences at risk if they are to back the October 2014 independence referendum.
There were periods during the exchanges when Scottish first minister Alex Salmond looked visibly worried that the majority in the Perth hall would go against him, while MP Angus Robertson had not just “to carry the hall, but to carry the country”.
Scotland’s justice minister Kenny MacAskill swung some doubters to Mr Salmond’s side when he emphasised that dropping opposition to Nato could be the key to winning independence – the SNP’s goal for 80 years.
However, he said Scots “need reassurance” that they will be safe if they vote for independence: “Whether fears are rational or irrational is not the point. We need to be able to satisfy them and allay their fears.”
The UK’s submarine-launched Trident missiles – to be replaced by more up-to-date weapons under Conservative/Liberal Democrats plans – are based at Faslane on the Clyde.
Mr MacAskill told delegates that their voting decision should not be based on their opposition to Trident.
“We’re all against them ... But we have moved on from being a party of protest to being a party of power.
“I have marched for CND and I have protested against Trident and I am tired marching.
“I want a seat for our government in the situations of power,” he declared.
During a passionate but respectful debate, opponents insisted that dropping the party’s long-standing opposition to Nato would be seen as “hypocritical” by voters, while others wanted the vote postponed.
The issue caused splits among SNP members of the Holyrood parliament, with MSP Jamie Hepburn saying it was not “ethically possible” to be a member of an organisation that backs a nuclear first-strike policy.
Fellow MSP Sandra White questioned why Mr Salmond had opted to drop opposition to Nato now and doubted that a majority of Scots favoured membership.
SNP MP Angus Robertson, who proposed the motion, said three-quarters of Scots favoured it, while just 11 per cent opposed it.
“Who are these 75 per cent? I have never met them,” she declared to loud support.
Fellow MSP Jean Urquhart said delegates could “choose George Bush and Tony Blair or choose Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson”. Party delegate Duncan Ross said “ditching principles” undermined “our position as a party of principle and integrity”.
