SCOTTISH Labour will today face the first major test of its new policy against Trident renewal with one of its most senior MSPs in open revolt and the party facing accusations that it is in a "shambolic, incoherent and chaotic mess."
In a debate in Holyrood brought forward by the SNP, Labour will call on the UK Government not to renew the nuclear deterrent, reflecting the historic vote at its conference on Sunday.
However, Jackie Baillie, the Dumbarton MSP and spokeswoman on public services and wealth creation, confirmed that she would be voting against the Labour position.
She said her party needed a "reality check" over the impact scrapping Trident would have on workers.
She yesterday circulated a statement from shop stewards at Faslane and Coulport bases, who represent more than 800 employees, expressing dismay and anger at trade union Unite's backing for the conference resolution and stating that claims that "defence diversification" could create replacement jobs were not credible.
Meanwhile, a deep divide also emerged within the UK party, after Diane Abbott, the shadow international development secretary and a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, predicted that the party as a whole would eventually follow Scotland’s lead. But within hours Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary, said that the party’s policy remained in favour of Trident renewal.
It leaves Scottish Labour against Trident renewal, despite its leader Kezia Dugdale being in favour of multilateral disarmament and UK Labour in favour of retaining the deterrent despite its leader, Mr Corbyn, being an outspoken opponent of nuclear weapons.
Ms Baillie, who spoke against the Trident resolution at the weekend when she warned as many as 13,000 jobs could be at stake, said the claim that workers could be protected was not credible, a stance she said was backed by Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey and employees at bases around her constituency.
Speaking ahead of today's vote, she said: "I will be arguing, as I have done consistently, for the workers at the base. I will not be abstaining. I will not be going out shopping. I will be there arguing for my constituents. I will take a position that reflects what I believe. We need a reality check about consequences for jobs.
"I'm expecting to be a lonely traveller, as the instinct is always to be accommodating to the party position. But the vote in Scotland doesn't matter, the decision will be taken by the UK parliament, and the party's UK position is to be in favour of multilateral disarmament."
The statement she circulated from shop stewards stated: "Those that choose to perpetuate the myth of diversification would be as well telling us to apply for jobs in Brigadoon. This utopian land of employment that these people would have us believe exists is no more than a jobs mirage."
On Sunday, more than 70 per cent of both grassroots Labour activists and trade union affiliates voted in favour of scrapping Trident, a position the party has not endorsed at an election since the 1980s. The resolution stated that "defence diversification agencies" would be set up to develop alternative employment for workers.
The SNP motion, to be debated today, labels the decision to renew Trident at an estimated cost of £167 billion "indefensible" at a time of austerity cuts. The Labour motion, while also calling for Trident to be scrapped, places the emphasis on ensuring high-quality replacement jobs rather than linking Trident to welfare.
Alex Rowley, Scottish Labour deputy leader, branded the SNP "deceitful" for promising to spend money that could be saved from Trident "ten times over" and called on his opponents to support his party's amendment.
He said: "We do not believe that there is a case for the renewal of Trident but it is important to set out clearly how we would ensure the jobs involved are protected and skills put to other use."
Addressing Ms Baillie's promise to rebel against the party's position, he added: "If Jackie feels so strongly that she wants to see it renewed she needs to be allowed to state that view. I'm fairly relaxed about that, but the position of the Labour Party in Scotland is absolutely clear on this."
The row within Labour came as the Scottish Conservatives held a "day of action" in Helensburgh, near Faslane, claiming only they could be trusted with the defence of the UK.
SNP MSP Bill Kidd said: "We welcome Scottish Labour’s conference vote opposing the renewal of Trident – but the truth is that unless they can convince their colleagues at Westminster to vote against renewal in the House of Commons, their decision will be utterly meaningless.
"Labour’s position on Trident is a shambolic, incoherent and chaotic mess... Only the SNP has consistently opposed nuclear weapons and voted against the renewal of Trident."
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