The UK Labour government is facing calls to explain how the most serious category of nuclear safety incident was recorded at Faslane earlier this year, alongside newly confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Long.
Between January and April 2025, a Category A nuclear safety event, defined as having an actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment in breach of safety limits took place at the Clyde naval base, which is home to the UK’s Trident nuclear submarines.
The revelation comes just days after the Ministry of Defence admitted Loch Long is contaminated with radioactive tritium, with emissions from the Royal Naval Armaments Depot more than doubling in five years due to decaying infrastructure, over 1,500 corroded pipes, repeated bursts and a major 2019 leak that discharged tritium-contaminated water directly into the loch.
In a written answer, UK Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle MP also confirmed that between April 2024 and April 2025 there were five Category B incidents, 29 Category C and 71 Category D, painting a picture of frequent and serious safety failures at the site.
The SNP says the combination of the Category A incident and the contamination amounts to a dangerous and costly catalogue of failings that demands full transparency and immediate answers from ministers.
Keith Brown MSP, Depute Leader of the SNP, said the latest revelations were “deeply worrying” and proof that the UK’s nuclear weapons programme represents “an ever-present danger” to Scotland’s environment, public health and safety.
“With repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane and now confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Long, it’s clear these weapons are not only poorly maintained but are a direct threat to our environment, our communities, and our safety,” he said.
Mr Brown accused the Labour government of refusing to provide details about the Category A incident or the full scale of the contamination, including who might be affected, and said the lack of transparency was unacceptable.
“While Westminster ploughs billions of public money into weapons of mass destruction, the SNP is focused on building a better Scotland,” he said.
“Only with independence can we scrap Trident, clean up the mess it has left behind, and ensure this kind of reckless nuclear policy is never forced on Scotland again.”
Campaigners, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, have long argued that Faslane’s operations carry environmental and safety risks that are incompatible with the protection of Scotland’s natural assets, pointing to Loch Long’s contamination as a stark warning.
For communities near the base, the questions now extend beyond military policy to public health and environmental safety and pressure is growing for the UK government to give answers that go beyond the usual reassurances.
