Dozens Arrested As Anti-Nuclear Protesters Demand End To Trident Sub Program

Police in Scotland confirmed that 34 anti-nuclear protesters have been arrested at the Faslane naval base in Scotland.

Hundreds of protesters blockaded the home of Britain’s nuclear weapons system today, calling for an end to the Trident sub program

The Scrap Trident Coalition’s Bairns Not Bombs demonstration aims to shut down the base, which is home to the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system.

It was estimated that about 200 protestors took part in the demonstration as part of a series of events organised by Scrap Trident.

The aim of the blockade was to focus attention on the UK’s nuclear deterrent in the run up to next month’s general election.

RT report:

Workers at the naval facility were sent home after failing to gain access to the site due to the blockade, according to The Common Space journalist Liam O’Hare.

Scrap Trident, a coalition of organizations including the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND) and Trident Ploughshares, have been demonstrating outside the facility since 7 a.m.

Protesters are demanding an end to the UK’s intercontinental ballistic missile program, which is up for renewal by the Westminster parliament in 2016.

Trident has become a contentious issue ahead of the general election in May, with Defense Secretary Michael Fallon pledging last week that a Conservative-led government would replace the Vanguard-class nuclear submarines with four new nuclear missile carriers.

Fallon’s election promise followed a statement by Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon, in which she said Trident was a “red line” issue the SNP would not support.

In the event of a hung Parliament, Labour may seek to form a minority government in an informal coalition with SNP.

Critics, including Fallon of the Conservative Party, argue that Labour would abandon the UK’s nuclear weapons program to secure power.

Shadow Defense Secretary Vernon Coaker rejected the idea, insisting last week Labour was committed to renewing Britain’s nuclear weapons program, which is set to cost taxpayers £100 billion over the course of its deployment.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said in January he supported renewing Trident, adding he is “not in favor of unilateral disarmament.”

Monday’s blockade of Faslane naval base follows anti-Trident demonstrations in Glasgow and London over the weekend.