News story

Royal Navy and Scotland

The First Sea Lord has said that the security of Scotland and the rest of the UK would be compromised if the Scottish choose independence.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 15 April 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas

Today, 15 April, Admiral Sir George Zambellas has written an article in The Telegraph about the potential impact of Scottish independence on the Royal Navy’s people, ships and submarines that help keep the United Kingdom safe.

In the article, the professional Head of the Royal Navy sets out why Scottish independence would damage Britain’s maritime security. He also writes about the bond between Scotland and the rest of the UK, and the vital role Scotland plays in maritime defence.

He said:

I believe that independence would fundamentally change maritime security for all of us in the United Kingdom and damage the very heart of the capabilities that are made up of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Fleet Air Arm.

While the continuing United Kingdom would eventually adapt and cope, the deeper impact would be felt in Scotland which would no longer have access of right to the security contribution of one of the finest and most efficient navies in the world.

Read the article in The Telegraph in full here.

Published 15 April 2014