Voters in Scotland want to retain the Trident nuclear deterrent on the Clyde if the country votes for independence, a poll has found.
Removing the weapons has been a key argument for Scotland leaving the UK, with slogans such as “bairns not bombs” in SNP campaign literature.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought a renewed focus on defence and security, and research by YouGov for The Times found that 45 per cent of people are in favour of keeping the submarines in the event of a “yes” vote, with 34 per cent opposed and 21 per cent undecided.
SNP voters were least likely to support retaining Trident after independence, with 28 per cent in favour of such a move and 55 per cent opposed.
There is slightly more support for the weapons in the wider independence movement, with 30 per cent of “yes” voters in favour and 51 per cent against.
James Mitchell, professor of public policy at Edinburgh University, said many joined the SNP “largely because they saw Scottish independence as the best way to rid Scotland of such weapons” but there was a gap between the views of the party and public.
“Trident looks even more of a problem for the SNP,” he said. “But it seems very highly unlikely that the SNP will alter its position so if this becomes a major issue, the SNP will need to clarify its position on the timing of removal and convince many people of whatever it decides.
“While the first minister has sought to assure the Washington establishment and other key figures of her commitment to Nato, this has been received with scepticism and she will struggle to simultaneously keep the ‘yes’ movement united and satisfy her international audiences.”
Nicola Sturgeon has repeated her desire to remove Trident from Faslane, on the Gare Loch, in the event of independence.
In Washington this month her stance appeared to soften on the timescale for removing the weapons. She promised “very responsible negotiations” with the UK government, adding: “Nobody would want to be irresponsible in the timescales that we set for that.”
She has argued that the break-up of the UK would not weaken the western security alliance at a time of crisis and has repeatedly restated her support for an independent Scotland joining Nato while giving up its nuclear weapons.
SNP policy changed on Nato a decade ago in a conference vote that led two MSPs to quit. Both later joined the Scottish Greens, who are now in government with the SNP but are opposed to membership of the alliance.
The poll showed strong support for Nato, with 73 per cent in favour of an independent Scotland joining, 8 per cent against and 19 per cent unsure.
YouGov interviewed 1,115 adults aged 16 and over in Scotland between May 18 and 23.
