Nationalists have rounded on Theresa May for demanding a snap vote on Trident renewal.
The favourite to be the next Prime Minister said it would be “sheer madness” to give up the nuclear system in the face of threats from Russia and North Korea.
She wants to see a Commons vote on renewing Trident by July 21.
SNP MSP Bill Kidd said it is “wasteful and reckless” to spend £167bn on a new generation of nuclear weapons when there is so much uncertainty for household and business budgets after the Leave vote.
“Not only is this spending morally wrong and economically incompetent but it also goes against the clear will of Scotland’s elected representatives – but once again the Tories refuse to listen,” he said.
Writing in the Daily Mail, the Home Secretary said: “The House of Commons should, before the summer recess, vote on Britain’s next-generation nuclear deterrent – and we should get on with getting it built.”
GMB Scotland organiser Gary Cook said the SNP must accept that Trident renewal is happening.
“If the Scottish Government keeps arguing against these jobs then we’ll open the door for the Tories to renege on their previous commitments, as we’ve seen with the delays in the Frigate Type-26 warship programme on the Upper Clyde,” he said.
“Our economy is already flirting dangerously with recession and wishing away these jobs on a point of principle would be totally reckless and completely at odds with Scotland’s interests.”
The Trident programme is based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde.
One of its four warhead-carrying Vanguard submarines is always on patrol somewhere in the world to deter nuclear powers from launching an attack on the UK.
