As I stated above, noted by Teribus, the defence industry is vital in many ways to the economy of Scotland. The first thing an independent Scotland would have to do is call an election. In it, I doubt SNP or any other serious party would repeat the "remove the submarines" ticket.

Salmond has already hinted at negotiating keeping UK defence infrastructure within Scotland. He can do that because he isn't saying an independent Scotland would remove them, he is saying an independent Scotland could remove them. Remember, this referendum isn't about SNP and it's policies, it's about freedom to enact policies they and others can't carry out right now.

He's a politician, if you hadn't noticed.