THE UK Government has been urged to put an end to its "dangerous and immoral" nuclear policy and scrap its commitment to weapons of mass destruction.
The Scottish Greens made the comments to mark Hiroshima Day, as the party hit out at "Westminster's nuclear obsession" which they said makes Scotland's "communities a nuclear target".
In 1945, the United States dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 respectively, leading to the end of the Second World War with Japan's surrender.
The bombs killed more than 200,000 people, with the Hiroshima bomb killing more than 140,000 people, including 38,000 children.
A number of events are taking place around Scotland to mark Hiroshima Day, including in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.
In Labour's 2024 General Election manifesto, the party described its commitment to the UK's nuclear weapons system - which are based in Faslane, on the Clyde - as "absolute".
Just last week, Labour set out plans to spend £63.6 billion over the next four years for the UK Government's Defence Nuclear Enterprise, £47bn of which will be spent on nuclear submarines.
Commenting, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay paid tribute to "all those who were killed, those who suffered unimaginable injuries and the generations whose lives were devastated by the atomic bomb".
She said: "Hiroshima showed the world the horrifying reality of nuclear warfare - the destruction of a city and the mass killing of innocent civilians.
“The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were among the most inhumane atrocities ever committed. There can never be any justification for mass killings or the long and brutal legacy that they left behind."
Mackay added: “We are 81 years on and the new Prime Minister is doubling down on his dangerous and immoral policy, committing tens of billions of taxpayers’ money on submarines and nuclear warheads designed to inflict mass destruction."
The co-leader said that "housing weapons on the Clyde, capable of annihilating millions of people, do not keep Scotland safe", but instead "make our communities a nuclear target while they pay the price through cuts, poverty and crumbling public services".
She claimed that "there is always money at Westminster for nuclear weapons, but never enough to eradicate child poverty, repair our public services or ensure that everyone has a warm and secure home".
Mackay continued: “No government that genuinely believes in peace, human rights and international law should threaten the mass slaughter of civilians, putting our own communities at risk whilst lining the pockets of arms traders.
“Westminster’s nuclear obsession does not have to be Scotland’s. We can keep our communities safe by removing Trident from the Clyde, and taking our place internationally as a country committed to peace and disarmament.
“Scotland deserves a future where our resources support our people and communities, not the profits of multi-national arms companies."
She added: "An independent Scotland can sign the anti-nuclear treaty and be a country where the lessons of Hiroshima are reflected with a firm and steadfast commitment to peace and nuclear disarmament.”
The following vigils are taking place across Scotland to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki memorial events in Scotland
- Glasgow (August 6): Glasgow Botanics Peace Garden, 12pm
- Edinburgh (August 6): Foot of Castle Street, 5pm
- Dundee (August 6): Dundee Law, assemble at Law Road car park, 8.30pm
- Faslane (August 8): North gate, 12pm
- Aberdeen (August 8): Marischal College, 3pm
- Paisley (August 9): Paisley peace garden, assembling at Barshaw Park car park at 5pm
Between August 8 and 9, the Ayrshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) will be running stalls in Ayr, Irvine and Kilmarnock.
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
