Douglas Alexander: SNP ‘can’t be trusted’ on defence

“In less troubled times any party suggesting that defence is not a priority could be seen as simply naive,” Mr Alexander told The Herald, “But, in today’s world, coming from a party with the ambition of breaking up the U.K., these comments are downright dangerous and tell you both that the SNP can’t be trusted on defence and that their disinterest in defence risks Scottish businesses missing out on the potential industrial dividend from increasing defence expenditure at home and abroad.”

READ MORE:

SNP defence plans ‘risk EU and NATO membership’, analyst warns

SNP criticised for cutting defence talks from conference

Gaza, Trident and Faslane: the case against defence industry

His remarks follow comments by Dave Doogan, SNP defence spokesperson at Westminster, who told the newspaper that defence would not feature prominently in the party’s agenda ahead of the elections in May.

Mr Doogan also said that a strategy would only be developed further if the party secured a majority of seats. John Swinney has already confirmed that such a result would give the SNP a mandate to hold another independence referendum.

There is also no mention of defence in the SNP's agenda for their upcoming conference next month.

Asked about this, the MP for Angus & Perthshire Glens said: “This is a Scottish National Party Conference ahead of a Scottish election next May where defence, outwith the economics sphere, will not feature as a material consideration for that election. Defence is reserved to Westminster and there is nothing quite as reserved as defence.”

Mr Doogan emphasised that the SNP views defence as “fundamental” to Scotland’s ambitions for independence but described the party’s approach as “phased” and responsive to the election outcome.

“If we win that majority, then we've got a space where we can talk," he said, "Most people in Scotland after 25 years in devolution know what we're responsible for or what we're not responsible for in the Scottish government and I think they'd think we would be a little bit daft to start obsessing about defence six months out from a Scottish Parliament election when we are not responsible for any defence elements,"

However, former SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald expressed disappointment over the lack of defence discussion at the upcoming conference, saying the party must overcome “nervousness” on the issue and “flesh out” its approach.

“There’s a nervousness about party membership on this issue and how they would respond to a more robust and pragmatic and serious position on defence,” Mr McDonald, who was the SNP spokesperson for Defence from 2017 to 2022 said, "But we must flesh this out.”

The recently published final version of the SNP conference agenda does not contain any mention of defence in all 27 motions scheduled to be discussed at the conference taking place between October 11 - October 13.

Attempts were made by members to provide a draft motion on defence, however, these failed.

Reacting to the news, Mr McDonald said it was important for the whole party to discuss defence if it wants "to be taken seriously" on independence as he said they must resist becoming a "Greek chorus" on the issue.

Mr McDonald told The Herald: "The party’s upcoming conference provided a timely opportunity to show that the SNP can lead Scotland’s discussion on European defence and security - timely after armed Russian jets violated Estonian airspace just a few days ago, which came just a few days after around 20 lethal Russian drones violated Polish airspace.

"This is all connected to our own security and economic interests, and if we are to be taken seriously on the question of independence then we cannot assume the role of a Greek chorus when it comes to defence."