Humza Yousaf pledges to eliminate nuclear weapons from an independent Scotland

In a push to address future challenges after potential independence, Humza Yousaf, the first minister, has announced that the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland will be legally protected in a post-independence constitution. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has included this plan in their latest blueprint.

This move revivalizes a call made by Nicola Sturgeon, the predecessor of Mr. Yousaf, almost ten years ago. Sturgeon questioned the use of Scottish taxpayers’ money to fund “one of the largest concentrations of nuclear weapons in Europe on our doorsteps.”

Mr. Yousaf highlighted the importance of these proposals in determining the path of an independent Scotland and creating a permanent, modern, written constitution that describes the country’s characteristics and governance. He emphasized that independence would shift power away from successive UK governments and place it in the hands of the Scottish people.

He added, “Under these proposals, nuclear weapons will not be present on the Clyde. This proposed constitution aims to ban nuclear weapons from an Independent Scotland.”

The strategy paper titled “Building a New Scotland” outlines the process of drafting a new constitution. Previous papers have also presented evidence demonstrating that independent countries comparable to Scotland tend to be wealthier and fairer than the UK, as well as how Scottish democracy can be reinvigorated through independence and the macroeconomic framework and currency arrangements for an independent Scotland.