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Wales 'would welcome UK nuclear fleet'
21 June 2012
The Scottish National Party has pledged to remove the UK's nuclear weapons from Scotland, including HM Naval Base Clyde Faslane and the nearby Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport, should Scots vote to leave the United Kingdom in a 2014 referendum.
While not supporting the idea of Scottish separation from the United Kingdom, Labour's Jones said that the fleet and accompanying jobs and investment were more than welcome in Wales.
"I did notice the Scottish government no longer wishes to have the nuclear submarine base at Faslane, it no longer wishes to house the UK naval nuclear fleet," he said.
"There will be more than a welcome for that fleet and those jobs in Milford Haven."
A Welsh Government spokesman said Jones supported the union, but recognised "the substantial economic benefits of relocating Britain's nuclear submarine to west Wales".
"There would be more than a welcome in Wales for this kind of economic boost, which would bring thousands of high-quality, well-paid jobs to the area," the spokesman said.
"The first minister is of the view that he would be neglecting his duty to do what he can to boost the Welsh economy were he to dismiss the possibility of bringing these jobs to Wales."
Some Welsh Assembly Ministers have criticised Jones' comments, however, with Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas saying the First Minister "clearly has no grasp on reality if he believes that the people of Wales want nuclear weapons stored in Wales".
"It would be far better for Wales for the UK government to do what Plaid Cymru has long called for – scrap the Trident project completely and spend the massive cost on plausible job creation schemes to boost our economy."
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Cymru said Jones was "flailing in the dark" for an answer to Wales' economic problems.
At a recent Scottish Affairs Committee hearing, Defence equipment minister Peter Luff said that HMNB Clyde at Faslane provides "6,000 jobs and climbing" and considerably boosts the economy in the area around the base.
The multi-billion pound cost of relocating Coulport and Faslane is likely to be the single most expensive item to be negotiated should Scotland vote to leave the union, ministers have warned, but the MoD said it was making no plans for a move as it was "confident" that Scots would vote to remain a part of the UK.
HAVE YOUR SAY
21 June 2012
Good on ya Wales...
Laskovar - UK
21 June 2012
Where does CND and Plaid Cymru get its idea that people in Wales don't want nuclear weapons or jobs related to them, produce the polls or shut up!
JC - UK
21 June 2012
Before we get to carried away in debate let's just remember this is still plan B, plan A is that Scotland remains in the UK.
Graham - High Wycombe
21 June 2012
I would like to know what will happen to the 30% who apparently support the separation if the vote goes to a 'No' win?
Presumably they would not be happy living in the UK any longer & may wish to emmigrate? Can anyone suggest a suitable country?
Laskovar - UK
21 June 2012
The Falklands. Similar terrain and climate to much of Scotland.
Good riddence to them as well.
I would consider it a national disaster if the Scots did choose to go it alone.
I still believe there are too many who believe in the union to make this lunacy a reality.
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
21 June 2012
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
Bit unfair on the Falkland Islanders who are quite happy being British!
Seriously though I only hope that if the result in Oct 2014 is to remain in the UK that we don't then get a Quebec style 'Neverendum' where the nationalist hold another referendum a few years later hoping to overturn the result of the last one. Whichever way it goes it needs to be an end to the matter. If it is a decisive result (hopefully for the union) then that would bring it to an end.
Graham - High Wycombe
22 June 2012
Graham
We'd soon change that! - And grab the oil. In fact come independence we could have a joint petro pound (Scots)with them.
Then get RN's insurance cancelled (Edinburgh is a financial centre after all) and it's sorted
Roger - Dumfries
22 June 2012
The political scenario in Wales sounds a lot like Scotland 20 years back. Any relocation would be massively costly; so if Wales goes for independence as well in a generation.....!
Gavin Gordon - Chichester
22 June 2012
Roger - Dumfries
Making an assumption there aren't you: "come independence".
Anyway did you not see recently that the SNP state UK regulators would oversee Scots banks and financial sector in an independent Scotland as you can't disentangle Edinburgh financial centre from London it has to have the same regulation (even though that would break EU law if Scotland were independent!).
Take your pick Roger:
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/politics/scottish-independence-questions-raised-over-financial-regulation-plans-1-2350584
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18411198
I'd go for the Scotsman article I love the last part:
[Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont said: "The SNP are making this up as they go along.
"The bank regulators they blamed for the collapse of the banking system are now the people they want to be in charge of the banking system.
"It is a kind of constitutional hokey-cokey.
"Fiscal policy in, monetary policy out, in-out, in out, shake it all about."]
Oh and don't forget:
1. The oil is running out, 20% left (see link below)
2. Maritime borders can be challenged.
http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/economic_report/reserves.cfm
Nice try Roger, good to see your a nationalist with a sense of humour! Alas you left yourself wide open and I just couldn't help it :)
Graham - High Wycombe
22 June 2012
Graham
I shall retaliate with:-
What monetary arrangements for an independent Scotland?
Professor Lawrence H. Whitehttp://www.policyforumscotland.com/include/publications/Whitecurrency08.pdf
And
http://www.oilofscotland.org/mccronereport.pdf
And
"Oil companies under-estimate oil resources, they don't over-estimate. It's simple business logic. In addition, there are issues of commercial secrecy, so oil companies are loathe to admit just how much is left. However most available estimates claim that the remaining worth of known oil deposits runs into the trillions of dollars"
Now I suggest we resurrect the truce or neither of us will ever get any work done!
Roger - Dumfries
22 June 2012
Oh Roger not oilofscotland.org now (pardon the pun) you are scrapping the barrel!
Still at least you didn't suggest newsnetscotland.
As for the McCrone report it was a prediction that was not exactly accurate and if we are talking about politicians not being honest with the electorate then you have to include the SNP in that, they aren't levelling with Scots about independence.
Lets see your going to use Sterling but will have surrendered any control of it.
Your going to hand over banking and financial regulation to Westminster again having surrendered any control of it which you now have.
Well at least the very latest opinion polls since the start of the yes campaign show:
"Among all voters, including those who were not sure if they would vote or not, 32 per cent agreed with Scottish independence and 55 per cent disagreed."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-independence-poll-shows-dip-in-support-for-yes-vote-1-2362662
As for a truce you did address the previous post to me!
So I guess you've got your work cut out, talking of which your right I've got to get back to mine, truce? (again).
Graham - High Wycombe