LOCAL MSP SIGNS PLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BAN

Published date : 24 Nov 2017

All SNP parliamentarians in Holyrood and Westminster have formally supported the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by signing the ICAN Parliamentary Pledge, including local MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes Jenny Gilruth.

Adopted by the UN on 7 July this year with the support of 122 countries, the treaty is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively rid the world of nuclear weapons.

The signing at Holyrood saw all SNP and Green MSPs, as well as three Labour MSPs including new party leader Richard Leonard committing to the pledge.

ICAN, an international group against nuclear weapons, has instigated the pledge signing for parliamentarians from across the world. The event comes two weeks before ICAN receives the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo for its advocacy on international nuclear disarmament.

Commenting, Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth said:

“I was honoured to sign the ICAN Parliamentary Pledge supporting the international disarmament of nuclear weapons.

“With the majority of Scottish parliamentarians aligning themselves the treaty aimed at the complete elimination of weapons, the UK’s mandate to renew the Trident, which is based in Scotland, has been critically undermined.

“The cross-party support for the pledge that stretches from Holyrood to Westminster, is evidence of the depth of support that exists in Scotland for nuclear disarmament and the scrapping of trident. I urge the UK Government to sign the UN Ban Treaty and stand with the 122 countries who have already taken this step.”

Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, Courier (Fife), RESERVED