THE head of the UK’s armed forces has said he won’t speculate on the “political ambition” of the SNP’s drive for Scottish independence.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of defence staff, said the armed forces were “really strong” in Scotland and highlighted the military’s investment in the country.
This comes after Nicola Sturgeon released a paper on Tuesday which is intended to be the Scottish Government’s renewed prospectus for independence.
Radakin said: “I don’t think it would be correct for me to speculate on a political ambition.
“All I can say is that the UK’s armed forces serve the whole of the UK.
“We’re in a Platinum Jubilee year, we’re Her Majesty’s armed forces, and we’re really strong in Scotland.
“All our submarines are based in Scotland. All our maritime patrol aircraft are based in Scotland. All our primary shipbuilding is done in Scotland.”
The admiral visited Edinburgh Castle on Wednesday and watched the One O’Clock Gun as it was fired.
He said there were more than 10,000 servicemen and women based in Scotland and that the defence industry was responsible for the employment of 12,000 people.
Radakin added: “That’s what we provide for the people of Scotland.
“That’s what we provide for the whole of the United Kingdom, hopefully to help us collectively look after our security and also engender increased prosperity for the whole of the United Kingdom.”
The Scottish Government is intending to discuss what defence might look like in an independent Scotland in one of their future papers.
Radakin said it would not be appropriate for somebody in his role, which he took up last November, to make suggestions to a political party.
He added: “Scotland is really important to us, as demonstrated by the investment that goes on here.”
