£500 Million Boost For Faslane Naval Base

The HM Naval Base Clyde, home to the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent, is to receive a £500 million investment boost.

The announcement was made by the Chancellor George Osborne during a visit to Faslane. The additional spending on projects including sea walls, jetties and ship lifts will secure thousands of jobs at the base.

Speaking to Sky News Mr Osborne said the decision was "all about keeping Britain safe." The Chancellor went on to describe the Trident programme - carried by the Royal Navy's Vanguard class submarines - as "Britain's ultimate insurance policy in a more uncertain and dangerous world.

"Ensuring that Faslane remains the centre of UK submarine operations for the next generation."

The move has however drawn ire from the SNP and Plaid Cymru who are accusing the government of pre-empting a vote on the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent next year. 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "I want to see Faslane have a strong future as a conventional naval base but this is an arrogant decision by the Chancellor to try and pre-empt parliament's decision on the replacement of Trident."

"If the Chancellor's got £500m to spend then I think he'd better advised to spend it on health, education, giving young people the best start in ilfe and reversing some of his cruel attacks on the most vunerable."

Forty miles north of Glasgow Faslane is home to nuclear missile-carrying Vanguard submarines, the Royal Navy's new Astute class boats, and is also expected to host the Successor class submarines from 2028.