Cameron sounds nuclear warning

DAVID Cameron has warned Alex Salmond that Westminster must be able to decide on the shape of Britain's nuclear deterrent and defence "without the Scottish Government trying to obstruct them".

The Conservative leader, widely expected to be elected prime minister within a year, insists today that Holyrood should not interfere on the UK Government's mandate on defending the country.

But Salmond hit back, arguing that as First Minister he has every right to fight against a new generation of Trident missiles being housed in Scotland, particularly when polls have shown opposition north of the Border to the plans.

The First Minister has set up an anti-Trident working group which will examine ways to block the new generation of Scottish-based missiles

The exchange, which forms part of a special BBC Scotland show marking a decade of devolution this evening, offers an insight into what may become the most contentious flashpoint between Edinburgh and London in the next few years.

The Conservatives back Labour plans to replace the current Trident system. Ministry of Defence sources say the project could cost up to £65 billion over 30 years, although the SNP put the cost at more like £100bn.

But Salmond has said he does not want the new system housed in Faslane in the west of Scotland, where this generation of Trident subs are based.

Cameron has previously said he would "respect" Scotland. But in his interview today he points out that he expects "respect" in return. "Defence is a United Kingdom issue," he says. " I respect the ability of the Scottish Minister and the Scottish Parliament to say, right, on tuition fees, or prescription drugs or whatever, we take a different view. But likewise ... if a government in Westminster has a mandate to deliver issues to do with nuclear deterrence or the size of the army, then they should be able to do that without the Scottish Government trying to obstruct them."

SNP officials point out that with the Scottish Parliament and Scottish MPs at Westminster opposing a new generation of Trident, there is no mandate for the missiles to be housed on Scottish soil. Speaking on the same programme, Salmond says: "It is like me saying, 'Well, I'll tell you what we'll go and, we'll go and sink all of Scotland's carbon dioxide in the Thames but we won't bother consulting David Cameron.' If the argument is to treat Scotland with respect then it must be translated into more than rhetoric, it must be reflected in deeds."

Asked whether he will roll over on the nuclear issue, Salmond replies: "I am not a rolling over sort of person."

Cameron also admits in his interview that the Conservatives were wrong not to act on calls for devolution in the 1990s.

He said: "We should have spent more time in government thinking, how do we give legitimate help to those people within our United Kingdom, who want to have a greater expression of self-government."

Both interviews, as well as one with former prime minister Tony Blair, were conducted for the documentary, Holyrood And The Search For Scotland's Soul, to be broadcast on BBC1 Scotland at 10.20pm today, and for a Panorama special on devolution in Scotland on BBC1 tomorrow at 8.30pm.