OPPONENTS to a change to the SNP's policy on Nato have seized on reports Germany has been forced to drop its commitment to withdrawal of nuclear weapons from its soil.
SNP MSP John Finnie said it is imperative those within the party attempting to force change in its long-standing opposition to the military alliance explain how Scotland will get rid of nuclear weapons based in the country after the claims in a Frankfurt newspaper. The publication claimed Germany had agreed to permit the US to upgrade its stockpile there.
Mr Finnie said: "Germany is one of the world's most powerful countries so when its parliament voted to remove nuclear weapons you'd think that was that.
"But Nato has put immense pressure on Germany to back down.
"Yesterday, Nato won and German democracy lost.
"The pro-Nato camp now faces a serious credibility problem. They want the SNP to make a policy U-turn based on the claim we can be in Nato and still get rid of Trident."
The proposal at conference by defence spokesman Angus Robertson is for Scotland to join Nato subject to a guarantee it could rid itself of nuclear weapons at Coulport.
John Ainslie, of Scottish CND, said: " It will be easier for Scotland to get rid of Trident if we stay out of this alliance."
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