By Steve Bargeton, political editor

FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell was put on the spot yesterday over his support for Trident after Chancellor Gordon Brown said he wanted to replace the ageing nuclear missile system.

Yesterday at Question Time SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon challenged Mr McConnell to say where he stood on this contentious subject.

However the First Minster repeatedly refused to give his view, arguing that there was a debate to be had on the subject and that he would give his opinion in due course.

To cries of “go on” from SNP backbenchers, Mr McConnell said, “The easy answer in these situations would, as ever, be yes or no.

“But I think this is an issue which requires a considered opinion.”

Ms Sturgeon replied, “Sometimes it is also the right answer for a leader, on issues of great moral importance, to say yes or no—to say what side he is on.”

She said a decision would be taken over the next few months on whether to spend up to £25 billion on replacing Trident.

“I have no doubt that there will and should be a massive public debate about that issue,” she told MSPs. “What I am asking the First Minister is what side of that debate he starts from.

“Does he agree with Gordon Brown that we need new nuclear weapons or, like many in his own party, will he oppose new weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde?”

She challenged him to “come off the fence” and say whether £25 billion would be better spent on the Trident replacement or on schools, hospitals and pensions. However the First Minister was not prepared to give his opinion yesterday.

He repeated that he stood for the security of Scotland and the UK, and UK participation in international negotiations to reduce nuclear proliferation and stockpiles.

Mr McConnell went on, “Miss Sturgeon might take the easy route of withdrawing from any influence or participation in those discussions. But I think there is an important role for Scotland, through the UK, to be part of those international negotiations.

“And it could just be that the way this decision is made could have an impact on nuclear proliferation and our ability to control that, and ensure that worldwide we are not in a worse situation.

“That is why we should take a considered judgment here. I will speak out on this issue but I will do so with the full facts at my disposal in the light of the international situation and an analysis of how it might develop.”

The leader of Scotland’s Roman Catholics and the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland spoke out against nuclear weapons.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien said, “The use of weapons of mass destruction would be a crime against God and against humanity that must never happen.

“Since it is immoral to use weapons of mass destruction in an act of war, equally storing, accumulating and replacing them, far from eliminating the causes of war, actually risks aggravating them.”

Kirk moderator the Rt Rev Alan McDonald said, “The churches stand united in the belief that nuclear weapons are morally and theologically wrong. As disciples of Christ, our calling is to be peacemakers.”