SNP warns Scotland’s safety at risk from armed forces cuts

The SNP has warned that Scotland’s safety is being undermined by Westminster’s cuts to the armed forces, pointing to sharp reductions in both personnel and defence spending as a share of GDP. The party highlighted that when Margaret Thatcher took office in 1979, the UK’s armed forces stood at around 315,000 active personnel – a figure that has since fallen dramatically. The warning comes amid growing concern over the UK’s military commitments and the impact of sustained budget constraints on national security. The SNP’s criticism is the latest salvo in an ongoing political battle over defence priorities, with the party arguing that Scotland’s strategic interests are being neglected by decisions taken in London.