THE UK Government has been accused of “lurching towards war” after reports suggested ministers were looking to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying and firing tactical nuclear weapons.
If the Labour Government went through with the purchase, reportedly to counter the growing threat by Russia, it would be the biggest expansion of the UK’s so-called nuclear deterrent since the Cold War.
The Sunday Times reports that the Government is taking part in “highly sensitive” talks and that US firm Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jet and other aircrafts are under consideration.
However, Defence Secretary John Healey refused to comment on the talks during a media round on Sunday, instead stating that the strategic defence review, due to be published on Monday, would contain further details about the UK Government’s plans.
It's understood the strategic defence review will not go so far as to back the purchase of the jets, but will suggest the UK looks at expanding its nuclear capability.
The newspaper reports that the F-35A can carry the B61 thermonuclear bomb, the kind primarily used by the US, which has a stockpile of more than 3700.
It’s understood that as part of Nato’s nuclear-sharing arrangements, the UK jets, if purchased, would carry these rather than its own nuclear weapons.
Before they were decommissioned after the Cold War, Britain previously had a stockpile of tactical nukes and V-bomber aircraft. Now, the Vanguard submarine programme is the only nuclear arsenal the UK has.
Healey was asked on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg if the UK should have a “new, extra way of delivering nuclear weapons”.
Healey insisted the UK’s nuclear deterrent was the “ultimate guarantee of security in this country”.
“It's what Putin fears most,” he added.
David Kelly, member of the executive of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND), said he was “not surprised, but shocked” at the possibility of an expansion of the UK’s nuclear weapons.
“The British government drones on and on and on about independent nuclear deterrent,” he told The National.
“And now the next way of strengthening that apparently is to use American airplanes, which we suspect have a kill switch, with American nuclear weapons, which unquestionably would have a kill switch, to be launched by standoff missiles.
“It's just not very well thought through, like the rest of our defence policies."
He added that discussions of war were “astonishing”.
SNP MSP Bill Kidd said: "Many Scots will have concerns about Labour spending billions of pounds of taxpayer money to expand the UK's nuclear arsenal at a time when many families continue to face the impact of the cost of living crisis.
"The UK's nuclear capability is not independent, has leaked in recent years putting workers and wildlife at risk, frequently fails in safety tests and is highly unlikely to ever be used. We want an end to these dangerous weapons in Scotland, but Labour are determined to write them another blank cheque.
"Any further expansion of the UK’s nuclear arsenal must therefore come before parliament for democratic scrutiny.”
Alba party leader Kenny MacAskill was also scathing in response to reports about the potential nuclear expansion.
The former Scottish justice secretary said: "When we need cool heads, Labour are lurching towards war.
"The UK is already an onshore aircraft carrier for the United States and now British planes are to carry American nuclear weapons. Scotland is already endangered by Trident on the Clyde and the last thing we need is nuclear weapons in our skies.
"It’s time for peace and investment in jobs, health and housing, not in machines of war and certainly not weapons which would see the annihilation of the human race."
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie also pointed to reports of leaks of radioactive material into Scotland's lochs and rivers around Faslane.
“In the 30 years since it was first deployed, with constant stories of accidents and poor maintenance, Trident has posed a greater threat to people in Scotland than it has to anyone else," he said.
“The simple fact is that nuclear armaments are indiscriminate weapons of mass slaughter, an immoral and unsafe waste of hundreds of billions of pounds that could be far better spent.
“I look forward to the day when an independent Scotland can join the 70 other nations who have already signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons.”
It comes as the UK Government is to set up at least six munitions factories, with one rumoured, but not confirmed, to be in Scotland.
Ministers pledged £1.5 billion for the factories and will support the procurement of up to 7000 UK-built long-range weapons in response to the strategic defence review, to be published on Monday.
The new funding will see UK munitions spending hit £6bn during this parliament.
Healey said the additional funding for defence was a “message to Moscow”.
