The Nationalists – who are committed to scrapping nuclear weapons – claimed Faslane security may have been breached by the Labour MP, despite an MOD investigation already ruling that out.
HMS Vanguard, one of the UK’s fleet of nuclear-armed submarines, sails from Faslane(Image: Crown Copyright)
The SNP has been branded the “real threat” to the UK’s nuclear deterrent after the party demanded an investigation into whether Faslane security had been breached by a Scottish Labour MP.
Joani Reid, who represents East Kilbride, was this week at the centre of reports over her alleged behaviour towards two senior naval officers based at HMNB Clyde.
The MP was reportedly found to have exchanged “flirtatious” messages with a submarine captain based at Faslane. The unnamed officer – who had met Reid before his naval career – was subsequently investigated by the MOD, which found no rules had been broken and no threat to national security.
The reports emerged after Reid’s husband, David Taylor, was arrested as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act last month.
He was released on bail. Reid has denied any wrongdoing and is not under police investigation.
With weeks until the Holyrood election, the SNP today demanded the UK Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee to investigate the security of Trident in light of Reid’s alleged behaviour.
A UK Government source said: “This is total and utter nonsense. The security of our nuclear deterrent is unaffected. The real threat to the future of our deterrent is an SNP government in Scotland.”
The SNP has repeatedly called for the UK’s nuclear deterrent to be scrapped and has pledged to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland if the country voted for independence.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The security of the nuclear deterrent is our highest priority, and we have robust processes in place to protect the security of our people and capabilities.
“We will not comment on individual cases.”
SNP MP Kirsty Blackman said: “Given the scale and nature of this matter, the appropriate committee to investigate this matter fully is the Intelligence and Security Committee who should commence a full inquiry as to whether the security of Trident was undermined by this scandal.
“Joani Reid’s behaviour compromised the UK’s nuclear fleet and our national security – her conduct must be investigated at the proper level which is the highest level.
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“This Labour MP – married to a man under investigation for spying – caused the resignation of a captain of one the UK’s four nuclear armed submarines and her behaviour with a second senior naval officer prompted an MP to submit a report to parliamentary authorities leading to fears that intelligence relating to the UK’s nuclear deterrent could end up in enemy hands.
“Let’s be completely real about this – Joani Reid’s behaviour has potentially compromised 50% of the UK nuclear fleet.
“The Intelligence and Security Committee should now be able to move forward with an inquiry without fear of prejudice from the Labour Party – that’s exactly why Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer must act swiftly on one of their own and instruct the committee to begin their work.”
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