MCCONNELL 'HAS MIND MADE UP FOR HIM' ON TRIDENT

[Excellent attacking stuff by Sturgeon. JOE]

First Minister Jack McConnell today came under fire from the SNP and his Liberal Democrat coalition allies for backing plans to keep Britain's nuclear deterrent. In clashes at Question Time, SNP Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon accusedhim of being out of touch with the majority of Scots on the issue - and with the majority of his own party.

The Question Time clash began with Nicola Sturgeon recalling that MrMcConnell had previously refused to give his views on replacing theTrident nuclear missile system. On Monday morning his office said he still had an open mind - but on Monday evening he said he agreed with the Government's decision to replace Trident, she told MSPs."What were the compelling arguments that turned the First Minister from don't know to gung ho in seven hours?" she demanded.

Mr McConnell told her: "It's easier to comment on a decision after it has been made than before it's made."Miss Sturgeon may find it easy to have a preconceived position regardless of the evidence or analysis or proper discussion, but I takea far more serious approach to my responsibilities and to the defence of the nation."

He said he believed the decision announced by the Westminster Governmentwas right on two grounds. He did not believe in "unilateral action" to disarm Scotland or the UK -and he also believed it was right to announce that the number of Trident warheads would be reduced, along with reductions in the number ofsubmarines on duty."I also believe it was right to indicate that in the next UK Parliamentthere will be a further decision to be made on the future of the warheads themselves," said Mr McConnell."On all of those bases, I believe the decision was right for the moment,while offering further opportunities for multilateral disarmament in the future - and this is right for Britain and right for the world."

But Ms Sturgeon retorted: "What happened on Monday was that the Prime Minister told the First Minister what his view was to be, and the First Minister complied."She demanded of Mr McConnell: "Doesn't the Government's White Paper make nuclear proliferation more likely, not less likely?"She said Tony Blair had described nuclear weapons as the "ultimate insurance" and a vital element of national security, and had also said he would be prepared to use them in a first-strike attack.

"What does the First Minister say to other countries that cite their national security and their need for an insurance policy as justification for developing nuclear weapons of their own?"

McConnell said he welcomed the Government's decision to reduce thenumber of warheads by 20%, the number of submarines if possible by 25%,and moves allowing a future parliament a decision on whether the warheads should be renewed."I think that's the right decision for multilateral disarmament worldwide, the right decision in an uncertain world - and a decision the SNP could never take because they are not serious about government or the defence of the nation - and they're certainly not serious about being in Britain." [What a shock! JOE]

Ms Sturgeon said: "Just one nuclear warhead can wipe out entire populations - that's why they are morally wrong."She continued: "The decision to replace Trident, publicly backed onMonday by the First Minister, represents the most appalling hypocrisy and robs the UK of any moral authority in arguing the case for non-proliferation." The First Minister is out of touch not only with the majority of Scots on this issue, but also with those in his own party who say in aparliamentary motion tabled yesterday that there is convincing military, economic and political case for the non-renewal case of Trident."And she urged Mr McConnell to have "the courage and honesty" to make the case against new weapons of mass destruction instead of "meekly following Tony Blair's line".

Mr McConnell told MSPs she appeared to be arguing the world would be safer, and it would be morally right, for only other countries to have nuclear weapons in a dangerous world."I believe, as I have said consistently in this chamber for at least six months now, that the only way to reduce the nuclear arsenal worldwide is through multilateral action, and certainly not through weakness," he said.

And it was "essential" that Britain continued along the path first set by Tories, and followed by the Labour Government, of continuing to reduce Britain's nuclear arsenal.He said of the Government's announcement last Monday: "These are the right decisions for multilateral disarmament, the right decisions forthe security of our nation - and the right decisions in an increasingly uncertain and dangerous world."

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs there were eight countries with nuclear weapons but 180 countries without them."I want Scotland to be in the majority," she said.She went on to argue that the difference between Mr McConnell and theSNP was that he was happy to see £25 billion "wasted" on nuclear bombs, while the SNP wanted it spent on better health, education and pensions."

He's for weapons of mass destruction, we stand for building a better Scotland for all - isn't that why more and more people want to see an SNP government?" she said.