Scottish Defence: Key Issues For General Election

Scotland - home to bagpipes, tartan and years of military tradition.

This small nation is a big player in the UK’s defence make-up.

The Scottish military estate is shrinking though, cuts from across the armed forces are taking hold, eight bases are due to close in the next 15 years. 

University Professor Phillips O'Brien says there are constituencies where these issues could affect how people vote:

"When you look at some of the seats in the north east, there are defence facilities in these areas that could matter in how people vote. Certainly no party wants to look like it may close down military facilities." 

An ongoing concern for all Scottish politicians is the replacement of the four Trident nuclear submarines, based on the Clyde.

In the SNP manifesto, they renewed a commitment to scrapping Trident but pledged to fight plans to close military bases. Angus Robertson, Defence Spokesman for the SNP said:

"We have a cast iron commitment to support conventional defence. Unfortunately, in recent years we've seen disproportionate defence cuts in Scotland, both in personnel and in facilities."

However, the Scottish Conservatives said they were committed to maintaining Trident on the West Coast of Scotland and defended their parties plan to close bases. The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson MSP, said:

"Absolutely some areas that have served us well down the years, like Fort George, are going to be shutting down because they are no longer fit for purpose. So we are going to be consolidating our defence estate but absolutly supporting the numbers that are here."

Scottish Labour continues to support Trident, despite previous calls from within the party for it to be scrapped. Kezia Dugdale MSP, leader of the Scottish Labour party says:

"We think with the increasing threats that we see, like North Korea, and indeed around the world. That it's the right policy for the future of our country."

While for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, they said they would push for a minimum nuclear deterrent. The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie MSP says:

"We want to come down the nuclear ladder from four submarines to three. We would not have continuous at sea deterrents, that would allow us to keep the submarines for longer whilst maintaining our nuclear deterrents. 

As the political situation changes on these isles, it’s difficult to tell how the military make up of Scotland will change with it.

But while Brexit and independence might be at the front of voters minds, its clear all parties are posturing for a further defence debate in Scotland in the future.