The West of Scotland MSP said he would rather see a ‘speedy and safe’ withdrawal of the weapons from the Faslane naval base.

Speaking at Scottish Parliament debate on the future of Trident nuclear weapons, the SNP politician said the predicted money spent on renewing Trident weapons could be better used elsewhere.

He said: “I disagree with the renewal of the Trident programme. I believe the money for the nuclear programme can be better invested in other policy areas, whether that is other defence related areas, health, education, the environment or any other matter.

“Independence offers us that same opportunity to take responsibility to rid ourselves of Trident and thus save our economy billions of wasted expenditure. The economic case for nuclear weapons doesn’t stack up and indeed actually hampers job creation and investment.” During the debate, in which the Scottish Government launched a motion to see the speediest safe withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Scotland in the event of independence, the predicted annual costs of updating Trident was unveiled as around £4 billion a year in the mid-2020s.

The SNP says Faslane will have a future in an independent Scotland, even if Trident is removed.

That would see the government turn the site into Scotland’s main conventional navy base.

John Ainslie, coordinator of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said the organisation welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s ‘historic decision’ to call for the removal of Trident by 2020 if Scotland votes Yes in six weeks time.

He added: “As was said in the debate, an independent Scotland would have the opportunity not just to remove nuclear weapons from our shores, but to set an example to the world.” STUART McMillan said the Ministry of Defence had previously indicated 520 people work on the nuclear programme and that these jobs are skilled, meaning any restructuring of the base from nuclear to conventional would create job opportunities for everyone who works at HMNB Clyde.

He added: “A Scotland free from nuclear weapons would allow us to utilise the money saved and put it to better use within our defence strategy of the future. The shipbuilding industry has been decimated and wrecked by successive UK Government’s who have reduced investment and left thousands of workers on the Clyde redundant. “The SNP Government have stood up for the workers who still remain on the Clyde and will continue to do so come independence. Maybe that is something the Labour party no longer wants to do as they are doing the Tories’ dirty work for them.

“Only through the gains of independence can Scotland take full control of decisions on defence and shipbuilding and create industries which are competitive and vibrant.”