SCOTTISH nationalists resolved to develop a “roadmap to nuclear disarmament” yesterday, writes Conrad Landin.

Delegates voted in favour of a call for a “practical description of the process and timescale to safely remove nuclear weapons” from Scotland if the country votes for independence.

They also backed an amendment emphasising that workers at the Faslane and Coulport nuclear bases would remain employed working on conventional naval defences.

Chris McEleny, a councillor in Inverclyde and a naval electrician by trade, said: “I think the message coming from this conference should be: If you want to rid Scotland and rid the world of nuclear weapons, then the best way to do that is an independent Scotland.”

West Dunbartonshire councillor Jonathan MacColl stressed: “We’re going to need places like Faslane for our conventional armed forces going forward.”

And Michelle Campbell, a councillor in Renfrewshire, argued: “Those jobs are still going to be required because we’re still going to be dealing with the science.

“We will need those skill sets in years to come.”