SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY AND NATO

Motion Text

That this House notes that the Scottish National party's International Affairs Review Group has published recommendations reinforcing the party's anti-NATO stance; notes that at a time when many smaller nations in Europe wish to join NATO to strengthen their defences, the Scottish National Party is proposing that Scotland should withdraw from NATO; further notes press reports at the time of the party's annual conference last year that their leader, John Swinney, believed that a pro-NATO stance would send out a powerful message that his party had modernised its vision; and recognises that the party's continued policy of opposing NATO membership is an humiliation for Mr Swinney and shows the continuing failure of the Scottish National Party to frame a modern and relevant defence policy.