SPRING BUDGET ANNOUNCMENT: £billions for nuclear weapons, but next to no money for public services

You probably saw that last month, Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt announced plans for a huge increase in military spending, including even more money for Britain’s nuclear weapons.

What you won’t have seen is an announcement on extra spending for the UK’s public services – on our schools, hospitals, homes, our social care, or any commitment to real support for doctors, nurses, teachers or other public sector workers. Because there was none.

We cannot let the government’s twisted spending priorities go unchallenged. Please make a much-needed donation and help us oppose these plans.

Even before last month’s announcements, the government was already committed to spending £billions on useless and immoral nuclear weapons. Now, with the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh recently unveiled by Rishi Sunak, it’s adding another £5 billion of military spending in just the next two years, the bulk of which is to be spent on the UK’s nuclear arsenal.

This was then followed by Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget. Between them, they plan for defence spending to go up by a total of £11 billion over the next 5 years.

So much money being spent on weapons that do not keep us safe and must never be used. But where is the money for schools, for hospitals and healthcare, for protecting the environment and investing in clean, renewable energy sources?

The choice to spend on weapons and war, rather than prosperity and peace, is a political one. I know this is not the kind of country you or I want. CND will be actively campaigning to oppose these spending plans, but we need your help: please, donate today and make your voice heard.

In peace,

Kate Hudson

General Secretary