John Swinney's independence plan to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland is a "win" for Russia and Vladimir Putin, a UK Government minister has warned.
Defence procurement minister Luke Pollard launched a scathing attack on the Scottish Government as he accused the First Minister of "attacking" the UK's national security.
Meanwhile, a senior government source told Scottish journalists plans were being considered to build a small nuclear reactor north of the border.
Mr Swinney's long running opposition to the UK's nuclear deterrent is well known, with the First Minister committing to removing the weapons from the Clyde if Scotland becomes independent.
He described the deterrent as providing "no tangible or realistic benefit" to the UK.
But speaking to the Scottish media at the Ministry of Defence in London, Mr Pollard said “Looking at the international picture with Russian aggression, not just against Ukraine, but against our allies on the Eastern flank, if you look at that international situation and think you need to be less secure, I think you’re failing in your understanding of national security.
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“We need to be absolutely clear: we live in a new era of threat. That means we need to invest more in keeping Britain safe. We need to invest in our people, our equipment and our alliances.
“Anything that rips apart our security is a win for Putin and is an attack on our national security.”
He also said the Scottish Government had “effectively attacked” the workers in the nuclear industry in Scotland.
The defence procurement minister added: “The thing that Putin fears most about the UK is our nuclear deterrent. Why make the argument that gives Putin a win and that removes jobs and makes Britain less secure? I don’t think in an era of threat that’s a credible position for anyone who cares about national shortages.”
Mr Pollard then said it was for the “people of Scotland to determine their future”, but added: “If I was sat in the Kremlin and I was looking at the nation that is at the forefront of Ukraine, the forefront of support for the Baltic states, that has a commitment to support Ukraine after peace, and there is a way to erode its defence capabilities, I would regard that as a win.”
Meanwhile, a senior government source told journalists that the UK Government was "serious" about harnessing the potential of Small Modular Reactors, referencing Torness as a potential site of interest.
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SNP defence spokesman Dave Doogan said: “It is unbelievably crass that a Labour minister is using Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine as a political attack. He should do the right thing and apologise.
“Successive Westminster governments have committed to billions on nuclear bombs while cutting conventional troop numbers. It is conventional defence forces that will protect us from the threats we face today – not weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde.
"Scotland has a thriving defence sector which saw Norway - a small, independent and nuclear weapon free country - choose to build warships here. That in itself speaks volumes about what our country could be capable of through a fresh start with independence.
"Scotland's existing multi billion pound annual contribution to UK defence will be far better spent equipping an independent Scotland with the personnel and materiel we will require to play our key role in NATO just like Norway, Finland and Denmark.”
Last month, The Herald's in depth look at Scotland's defence future revealed that Scotland will be the first in line for any UK attack by Russia because of the presence of Faslane.
Ed Arnold, senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said disabling the nuclear deterrent would cripple the UK's defensive power.
He said: "If it is Kremlin deliberate policy to go attack Nato, the Kremlin will want to do it when it is to their advantage so they will strike first.
“And if they strike first, Faslane and Lossiemouth at a minimum would be their first targets, over London."
On Tuesday, it was revealed that 150 jobs will be sustained at aerospace and security company Leonardo's in Edinburgh following a defence deal between the UK, Sweden and Thailand.
Swedish defence firm Saab agreed to provide four new Gripen fighter aircraft for the Royal Thai Air Force over the next five years, with the aircraft's radar set to be built at the Edinburgh site.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the deal was secured against "stiff international competition".
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