22 December 2006

Trident Vote: Resignation of Malcolm Chisholm

The CfS endorses the principled position adopted by Malcolm Chisholm MSP, Bill Butler MSP, Elaine Smith MSP and Marlyn Glen MSP who supported the motion, tabled by the SNP, opposing the replacement of the nuclear submarines.

The terms of the motion were directly lifted by the SNP from a motion lodged in the name of Bill Butler last week and supported by both Marlyn and Elaine along with other Labour MSP's. Whilst Labour members, understandably, would be reluctant to vote in favour of an SNP motion based on a cynical ploy to make political capital out of the deadly serious issue of nuclear weapons; a matter afforded a mere hour's debating time by the SNP, it proved untenable for some Labour MSP's to vote against their conscience and principles.

The CfS holds that had the official position of the Labour Party been honoured, that a debate on the future of Trident was required before the Labour Party took a position, then Labour MSPs should have been free to debate and support different options.

In such a debate Malcolm Chisholm would have represented not only a majority of Labour Party members in Scotland but a majority of Labour MPs. According to a survey by the BBC, 11 Scottish Labour MPs are definitely against and four are probably against the replacement of Trident.

The unifying influence that Chisholm's position as a senior Labour Minister in Scotland might have had in keeping on board many labour supporters hostile to Trident renewal has been lost. Furthermore, the responsibility for decisions on this matter lies with Westminster, a point acknowledged by the First Minister who said recently that he expected members in all parties to "legitimately to express their view on the decision" and members of his own party, including the Executive, to "speak from their consciences"

The CfS, therefore, regrets Malcolm Chisolm's decision to resign; believes that Jack McConnell should have refused to accept an offer of resignation based on his own words stated earlier this month; and condemns any suggestion that the three backbench CfS MSP's should be disciplined in any way for voting in line with current party policy and their consciences.

Elaine Smith MSP convener of CfS who voted against Trident renewal said:

'I am at one with Scottish Labour Party policy that the renewal of Trident is more likely to bring about a more dangerous, insecure world than a strategy of nuclear disarmament and promotion of global social justice. It is disgraceful that Malcolm Chisholm has felt compelled to resign from office because he took a stand in favour of a position that is Scottish Labour Party policy. The Scottish Labour Leadership should be more reflective of that policy and less keen to be seen as loyal to the increasingly unpopular leadership of Tony Blair"

Notes for Editors

"It is a decision for the United Kingdom Government to take and it is for members of this Parliament on all sides and in all parties legitimately to express their view on the decision." "I want to make it clear that I expect people in my own party as well as in the Executive to speak from their consciences and to speak their own minds." First Minister 7th Dec 2006

S2M-5287 Bill Butler: Trident Renewal Debate- "That the Parliament notes the publication by the UK Government of its White Paper on the future of the Trident nuclear missile system on Monday 4 December 2006; acknowledges the Prime Minister's call for "a very full process of debate" on this profoundly serious area of policy; recognises the need for the debate fully to explore the military, economic and political consequences of Trident renewal; believes that a convincing case can be made, in military, economic and political terms, for the non-renewal of Trident, and therefore advises electors to lobby their Westminster representatives to urge them to vote against the renewal of Trident in any debate held on that subject in the House of Commons".

Supported by: Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Michael McMahon, John Swinburne, Stewart Stevenson, Tommy Sheridan, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Patrick Harvie, Mike Rumbles, Elaine Smith, Kate Maclean, Robin Harper, Eleanor Scott, Colin Fox, Brian Adam, Chris Ballance, Frances Curran, Shiona Baird, Bruce Crawford, Cathy Peattie, Rob Gibson, Donald Gorrie, Christine Grahame, Mark Ballard, Michael Matheson, Rosie Kane, Jim Mather

(Cathy Peattie was not present for the debate due to illness, but has "voted against Trident before and would have voted against Trident again.")

S2M-5355 Nicola Sturgeon: Trident- "That the Parliament notes the publication by the UK Government of its White Paper on the future of the Trident nuclear missile system on Monday 4 December 2006; recognises the need for a full debate to explore the military, economic and political consequences of Trident renewal and believes that a convincing case can be made, in military, economic and political terms, for the non-replacement of Trident, and calls on the UK Government not to go ahead at this time with the proposal in the White Paper."

For Further information contact:

Elaine Smith MSP 0771 365 1276

Or

Gordon McKay 0780 806 7988