THE SNP called for urgent clarification yesterday on Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to double the size of a torpedo testing range off the west coast of Scotland without a consultation.

MP Ian Blackford wrote to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon accusing the MoD of “riding roughshod” over Scottish communities after the Westminster government failed to carry out a public consultation despite assurances that it would.

He stated that the communities affected were “effectively faced with a fait accompli” as proposed changes to the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (Butec) could threaten the livelihoods of around 140 fishermen working in the area.