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An undated photo provided by the Ministry of Defence of vanguard class nuclear submarine HMS Vengeance in Gare Loch, after departing HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, Scotland
SCOTTISH First Minister John Swinney’s backing for Nato and higher defence spending even as he renews his party’s opposition to nuclear bombs has been slammed as “confused and confusing” by peace campaigners.
Mr Swinney, who campaigned for Scottish independence under the “Bairns not Bombs” banner, was fulsome in his support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to “reshape the economy” by boosting arms spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but took issue with its funding model.
He branded Labour plans to cut international aid spending the “wrong choice,” but said: “I do think it’s necessary to take seriously the threat of security, which therefore leads to the conclusion that we need to spend more on defence.”
While politicians fixate on defence budgets, the real answers lie in peace-building and economic justice, says ALAN SIMPSON
Campaigns against nuclear weapons on the Clyde, financial backing for arms firms and rising militarism are converging with solidarity for Palestine, as Scotland’s peace movement builds momentum ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election, says ARTHUR WEST
