Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeScotland’s First Minister has hit out at the UK Government over what he branded “glaring weaknesses” in Scotland’s defence – insisting there must be a “strong” presence in the country’s waters. John Swinney said ministers in Whitehall had “chosen not to base a single offshore patrol vessel, frigate or destroyer in Scotland”. Scotland currently has “glaring weaknesses in our physical defence”, the First Minister said, particularly around “the deployment of surveillance vessels which will protect us”. “These bases in Scotland play a vital role in protecting the North Atlantic from Russia’s aggression and the nuclear deterrent protects the UK and our Nato allies every day.