US firm’s bid for management of UK defence site draws criticism from politicians, anti-nuclear groups

A bid by a group of private firms in the UK, led by a controversial US arms giant to take over the running of a top-secret nuclear bomb base on the Clyde has come in for sharp criticism from politicians and anti-nuclear groups.

As a part of its programme to save money, the UK government plans to sell off the management of the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport for which an American company, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) fronted by Lockheed Martin, a US firm has put in a bid.  

However, the Labour Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP), whose constituency includes a part of the base near Fasloane has termed the privatisation move ''irresponsible.''

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton Labour MSP has called on the UK government to roll back the privatisation plan for Coulport, which is responsible for the storage, processing, maintenance and issue of the Trident Weapon System as also all ammunition for the base's submarine fleet.

According to Baillie the decision would be extraordinary, as the site is one of the most sensitive military institutions in the UK.

She added that it was the security of the nation that was the issue and it would be irresponsible to let a private company run a military base like this.