AN independent Scotland would struggle to remove Trident nuclear weapons from the Clyde, according to a former chairman of Scottish CND.

Alan Mackinnon argues an independent Scotland would face huge pressure from the UK, EU, Nato and defence firms to keep bases at Faslane and Coulport.

The pressure, he says, would come if Scotland were trying to negotiate membership of the EU and Nato and would be backed by tempting cash incentives.

In the Red Paper on Scotland 2014, he writes: "The biggest contradiction of SNP defence policy is the desire to get rid of Britain's Trident fleet and at the same time join an alliance which has nuclear weapons at its core."

He says: "This is not intended to belittle the SNP defence policy.

"On paper it is a great deal more progressive than that of any of the main Westminster parties and a vote for independence would, at least in theory, provide new opportunities to get rid of Trident, which would require a vigorous response from the peace movement.

"But if you thought that it would result in a Scotland with a nuclear-free, independent foreign policy which would no longer be drawn into military adventures overseas, then think again."

Dr Mackinnon, a leading voice in the peace movement, argues that "independence is not the last or only hope of ridding ourselves of these weapons".

He urges campaigners to maintain pressure on Westminster as doubts over Britain's nuclear deterrent continue to grow among politicians and defence experts.

He adds: "There are signs that Labour's leaders may be beginning to lose their 30-year-old fear of being seen as soft on defence. A Labour campaign which proposed scrapping Trident and spending the money on jobs, services and renewable energy could be a big vote winner."