Revealed: Major nuclear incidents downplayed - defence chiefs in human error cover-up?

Floating dry dock at Coulport Naval Base (by Vic Sharp)

CLYDEBANK’S MSP has condemned the MoD after a recent report suggested it is downplaying the number of nuclear incidents.

Findings by the Nuclear Information Service (NIS) listed 110 major incidents in the last 65 years, compared to the MoD’s 27.

SNP MSP Gil Paterson has insisted human error could lead to “untold misery” in the central belt of Scotland.

The report includes eight explosions, 21 security-related incidents and 45 accidents relating to nuclear submarines, ships and aircraft.

The NIS dossier comes not long after it was revealed the UK government failed to disclose a serious malfunction in a Trident test launch just before Westminster voted on its renewal last year.

Mr Paterson has spoken out at every opportunity in the Scottish Parliament, calling for nuclear disarmament.

Gil Paterson, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, said: “It is clear those running the British State’s nuclear weaponry cannot be trusted to either keep the public safe or tell the truth.

"The very fact there are 110 major incidents is terrifying, when Trident is kept just a few miles from my constituency.

"Human error could cause untold misery to the people of Scotland should there be an accident at Coulport, where they are stored, or as nuclear weapons are transported there.

"We must disarm ourselves of these obscene weapons before it is too late.”

ENDS
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The NIS report is looked at here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4238532/Britain-s-110-nuclear-alerts-revealed.html