The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, after a lively debate at its annual conference on Saturday 17 November, agreed to support the YES campaign. The resolution which was adopted says,

“Conference urges all members to give priority to the campaign for a 'YES vote' in the 2014 Independence Referendum which will give the Scottish Government a mandate to negotiate a written constitution with a clause on No Nuclear Weapons in Scotland.

“Conference resolves that SCND affiliates to and promotes the “Yes” Campaign as the most immediate and effective way of getting rid of Trident.”

The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has called on the Government to scrap the new fleet of Astute submarines, because they are fundamentally unsafe.  A series of major problems with the vessels is revealed in the Guardian.

"The Government should scrap their plans to send more Astute class submarines to Scotland. There are clearly a series of insurmountable design failures with the new boats, many of which have major safety implications. The Navy should not be putting the lives of sailors and the general public at risk by sending these dodgy vessels to sea."

Former Tory Defence Minister Michael Portillo gave a damning verdict on Britain's nuclear weapons programme on BBC This Week. In response to the question "Should Trident be renewed?", he replied "No, I think it is all nonsense". Then when asked "Should we have any kind of nuclear deterrent?" Portillo said, "No, it's completely past its sell by date. It's neither independent, because we couldn't possibly use it without the Americans, neither is it any sort of deterrent, because now largely we are facing enemies like the Taliban and Al Quaeda, who cannot be deterred by nuclear weapons.

Dr Rebecca Johnson will speak on "New international Game-changers to Ban Nuclear Weapons: Scotland's Role and Responsibility" at Scottish CND's annual conference from 10 am on Saturday 17th November 2012 in the STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. There will also be a debate on the approach that Scottish CND should adopt during the independence referendum. Papers

Scottish CND have produced a recording of the message which would have been broadcast over radio stations in the event of nuclear war. The transcript was released in 2008 under the Freedom of Information Act. The announcement is read by Crawford Logan. Listen (mp3)

50 years ago the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. Scottish CND has produced a briefing on the Cuban Missile Crisis and its implications for Scotland today. We are also holding an event with speakers and discussion from 10 am on Saturday 27 October in Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue, Hillhead, Glasgow. (leaflet)

SNP CND has produced a Question and Answer briefing on NATO for SNP conference

The Sunday Herald reports that Alex Salmond is proposing that the constitution of an independent Scotland would include a prohibition on nuclear weapons.