Whiteford Makes a Stand in Parliament Against Nuclear Weapons
Wednesday 21 January 2015
Scottish Labour vote with Tories to spend £100bn on new weapons
Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford made a stand in Parliament against nuclear weapons this week, voting to oppose the renewal of the £100bn Trident system.
The SNP’s motion debate at Westminster sought to cancel the next generation of deadly Trident nuclear weapons. Scottish Labour had threatened to boycott the debate but in an extraordinary decision – for the second time in two weeks - Labour have voted to support the Tories, this time on spending £100 billion on nuclear weapons. The SNP, together with a progressive alliance of the Greens and Plaid Cymru led the calls to have these weapons cancelled.
Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:
"It is absolutely indefensible and morally repugnant to waste £100bn on weapons of mass destruction whilst food bank use is rocketing, and more and more children are being pushed into poverty. I voted to oppose nuclear weapons in Parliament this week so that we can better spend these colossal sums of money on making a positive difference to our society.
"It is a sad indictment of what the Scottish Labour party has become that they voted to support the renewal of Trident - only a week after they voted to push through more Tory cuts.
“With a strong team of SNP MPs after the General Election, Scotland can hold the balance of power and can force Westminster to abandon this disastrous commitment – and ensure these immoral weapons are removed from Scotland for good.”
"It is a sad indictment of what the Scottish Labour party has become that they voted to support the renewal of Trident - only a week after they voted to push through more Tory cuts.
“With a strong team of SNP MPs after the General Election, Scotland can hold the balance of power and can force Westminster to abandon this disastrous commitment – and ensure these immoral weapons are removed from Scotland for good.”