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Old 23rd October 2011 | 14:41
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NorthSouth
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Sometimes north, sometimes south
The SNP has also said:

1) the Scottish army will restore all the disbanded infantry regiment titles
2) Scotland won't be part of NATO

Meanwhile Salmond and John Swinney pleaded with Cameron to have more UK forces based in Scotland, with the result that Faslane is expanding and the number of army personnel will be doubling. I've heard two rationales for this:

1) Cameron was delighted to cement more UK units in Scotland because that would make it much harder (not least economically) for Salmond to achieve independence and chuck out all the UK troops

or, if you prefer:

2) Salmond wanted a nice cheap way of getting extra public spending in Scotland which doesn't cost Holyrood a penny, but which supports the local economy in the Clyde/Moray/Fife etc; and which also gives him a resident force which can be used as a basis for bargaining with the Westminster government after independence, in terms of (a) which units transfer to Scottish control and (b) which units the UK government wants to retain in Scotland, and at what price paid to the Scottish exchequer.

On Salmond's past record I would expect to see much weaseling over the next few years out of (a) the SNP's anti-NATO stance and (b) the commitment to get Trident and the SSNs out of Faslane. All the UK government has to do is name its price.

NS
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