Strathkelvin councillor quits SNP over conference NATO decision

Strathkelvin councillor Frances McGlinchey came to the decision after the motion was passed at the recent SNP conference in Perth by 426 votes to 332.

It leaves the way open for an independent Scotland to join the pro-nuclear weapon defence alliance, against the wishes of many MSPs and party members.

Membership would be dependent on the removal of Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland, but the concession was not enough for North Lanarkshire councillor McGlinchey - who joined Highland MSPs John Finnie and Jean Urquhart in resigning from the party.

Councillor McGlinchey told the Herald that the party’s u-turn was the final straw for her and that she had been “worried about the direction the party has been going for some time now”.

She said: “I am still in shock and completely scunnered by the NATO decision.

“Following the NATO debate I could see no place for me in the party as my ideals are incompatible now with the SNP.

“I still passionately believe in independence for Scotland, but now question the SNP to deliver my aspiration.”

An SNP spokesman said: “It is sad that Councillor McGlinchey has decided to leave the party.”

He added: “We had an excellent and democratic debate at party conference last Friday, and agreed a policy of reaffirming our opposition to nuclear weapons as a non-nuclear member of the Nato alliance - a position that will be accepted by the party as a whole.”

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