SENIOR SNP politicians hoping to overturn the party's longstanding opposition to Nato have received backing from an independent think-tank.

The Scots-based Nato Watch group concludes in a new report that the SNP's aim of a nuclear weapons-free Scotland is compatible with membership of the military alliance.

The report, Human Security in an Independent Scotland, recommends Scotland should work for the "global abolition of all weapons of mass destruction".

However, it is sympathetic to joining Nato, arguing Scotland could play a major role in encouraging nuclear disarmament from within the alliance.

It questions whether an independent Scotland would have the time and resources to build security and defence alliances which bypass Nato.

However, it concludes that membership of Nato should be considered separately and put to voters in a referendum.

Nato Watch director Dr Ian Davis said: "I would suggest Scotland could both make a positive contribution to a re-defined collective security as a member of Nato and, by working with other like-minded countries, challenge Nato's nuclear policy".

The move will be debated at the SNP conference on Friday.

SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "This confirms polling evidence which shows 75% of people support Scotland remaining in Nato and also a strong majority for removing Trident."

SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said: "My position is it is incompatible to seek to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland and shelter under a nuclear-armed organisation."