Defence spending increase will benefit arms dealers but not security

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Writing in The Sunday Times over the weekend, Ian Blackford, the former SNP Westminster leader, said 'difficult choices' would need to be made to meet the cost, and that to avoid austerity, the Scottish Government should look to back the sector.
'Investment in defence, though, can be a lever and transformative in itself in generating economic growth," he wrote.
Ian Blackford said the rise in defence spending could kickstart Scotland's economy (Image: PA)
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The SNP has long opposed public money being spent on munitions.
The Scottish National Investment Bank's ethical investment policy currently bars organisations 'primarily engaged in the manufacture of munitions or weapons' from receiving support.
Recently, a new welding centre—backed by Rolls-Royce and intended to support Royal Navy submarine construction—was denied funding by Scottish Enterprise. The UK Government has since stepped in to fund the initiative.
The SNP has faced accusations of hypocrisy, as the Scottish Government funds Ferguson Marine, which is subcontracted by BAE to work on Royal Navy frigates.
Last week, First Minister John Swinney suggested the policy could be 'reconsidered' given the growing threat from Russia.
Speaking on the Holyrood Sources podcast, he said: 'I'm conscious we are living in a very different context today. I do think the Russian threat is very real. We have to consider these questions.'
He added he had no objections if a company wished to set up a munitions factory in Scotland.
The First Minister said: 'We do not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions but will support skills and defence companies.'
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Mr Greer disagreed. He told The Herald: 'The only people who would benefit from splurging hundreds of billions of pounds on 'defence' are the arms dealers who have already made obscene profits from the killing of innocent people from Palestine to Yemen to Afghanistan.
'Britain's defence budget is massive as it stands. Spending more money on weapons to please Donald Trump will not decrease international tension or the likelihood of war. We would do far more for our own safety if we increased investment in energy and food security, protection against cyberattacks and countering misinformation.'
He continued: 'The dirty secret at the heart of Westminster, which a former senior MP like Ian Blackford is well aware of, is that we could do far more to counter hostile states like Russia and China through targeted economic and political sanctions.
'Of course, arms dealers and their lobbyists would not make any money from actions like shutting down the UK-based companies still supporting Russian gas exports. If there is no profit to be made, the elites dictating UK foreign policy are not interested.'
He added: 'The most impactful steps Westminster could take for world peace right now would be to stop arming Israel's genocide in Gaza, send home or arrest the Israeli soldiers currently being trained by the British military, and recognise the state of Palestine.
"There will be no peace as long as Labour continues to play an active role in Israel's war crimes.'