‘Peace not Weapons: Barrow’s role in Britain’s nuclear weapons system’ – CND webinar

The British government and much of the media have gone into overdrive this week. They’re arguing that British troops should be sent to Ukraine and for a massive ramping up in military spending following pressure from Donald Trump. Currently standing at 2.3% of GDP or just under £60 billion, increasing this to the 2.5% demanded of NATO members would mean finding between £5 and 6 billion extra a year. Some defence chiefs want this to be even higher – meaning military spending could increase to £70 billion annually if they get their way.

 
This pressure means Chancellor Rachel Reeves has the political choice of cutting our already underfunded public services, raising taxes, or more borrowing in order to fund this war drive. All of these are politically unpopular. Nuclear weapons are a large part of this expenditure – and a recent watchdog report by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority found that at least £55 billion worth of nuclear weapons projects are either “unachievable” or with “major issues.”
 
This raises major problems for the government as it tries to justify funding Britain’s new nuclear submarines. These new generation of submarines are being built at the BAE Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness. Join CND on Wednesday, 26 February for a webinar to discuss Barrow’s key role in Britain’s nuclear armaments, the government’s obsession with tying militarism to economic growth, and the need for defence diversification policies. That’s why we’ll also be protesting  at Barrow on Saturday 22 March.

• Wednesday, 26 February
• 7-8:00pm
• Online, register here

Speakers include: Phil Webber, Scientists for Global Responsibility; Sam Mason, CND Vice-Chair and trade unionist; Phillip Gilligan, South Lakeland and Lancaster District CND. Chaired by Sophie Bolt, CND General Secretary.