SCOTTISH councils should “take any action within their powers” to stop nuclear weapons being transported across their territories, a motion passed at SNP conference today stated.

After a lively debate, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a call to beef up councils’ powers so they can “outlaw transportation of nuclear warheads and related waste.”

Moving the motion, East Kilbride delegate George MacDonald said: “Nato is incompatible with our support for CND. The world would not survive a nuclear exchange. All would perish.”

East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow MP Lisa Cameron argued: “Scotland supports bairns over bombs — we must support the motion.”

Support was not unanimous. Delegate Brian Smith said the conference should remit the motion because stopping the transportation of nuclear materials “means keeping it here — and I want to see it gone.” He added: “The sentiment is right but the wording is wrong.”

SNP Students activist Dovydas Kuliedas urged voting the motion down altogether. “I am 100 per cent against nuclear weapons in Scotland and [across the world],” he said.

“There is no power under any devolution settlement to achieve this. I cannot endorse this motion because it is simply pointless.”

Young Scots for Independence activist Jack O’Neill concurred, saying: “It’s a fantasy.

“Under any devolution settlement, no Scottish government or local authority would ever overrule the SNP.”

Delegates also heard a warning that Scottish CND would be more likely to reverse its support for Scottish independence if the motion was not endorsed.