Fresh evidence that Britain is being primed for the return of US nuclear weapons

Fresh evidence that Britain is being primed for the return of US nuclear weapons was revealed this week. US Air Force budget documents seen by the Federation of American Scientists outline that a $59 million “surety dormitory” to house 144 military personnel will be built at Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk. In US military and government speak, “surety” is a term used to refer to keeping nuclear weapons safe, secure, and under control.

It follows revelations last year that the nuclear storage bunkers at Lakenheath will be upgraded to house the B61-12, Washington’s newest guided nuclear bomb, due for deployment to US/NATO bases in Europe this year.

CND’s wv_SNK5hzi9yWf3FFyBm_6OrNP4ZJeM8o46KBjF727CS1DQe3U83KlhzxNALUgu6vgIO2WGFl9lykVWhMJ6ZYWCyxlBtD7iBlm5G5a51Zv7E8WaiQkZB8nnqiC9SK2Up_3CN7_0_ofgIm2s0c6YQJ9LaP2LtoYQW-s0Za0RaI5C-5D3J8Lb8RT5VMz6ZHcyq6ll4QnNRBZWRq1yzoh8k_jgdrFJlObP8GWO5RqRGgEzCIYcMstpWdKM7waFlKlnLMKXJHTXnoPCVH_DZsTlgrX2v9DQLQuRgWkhl7DD1tj45M6_4mdQl/3z7/_535L-aNTz6h6fQrfQ4TTw/h2/Uk9yM67WtGj3nLAjuN6RUA6oY99j_ym72AYBePMPSG4”>The Guardian, BBC, and The Telegraph. Coverage from outlets located near the base include BBC Look East, Gen X Radio, Eastern Daily Press, Cambridgeshire Live, and East Anglian Daily Times.

The developments at Lakenheath prompted a You Gov poll which found that 59 percent of Britons are opposed to the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Britain. This makes the upcoming day of action on Saturday 23 September all the more important in getting our message across to the wider public. Strengthening our movement against nuclear weapons is top of the agenda.

To help CND groups and supporters build for their own No US nukes action, we have prepared a resource page which includes a model press release, talking points, an info sheet and new leaflet. If your CND group is organising an event, contact [email protected] and we’ll add it to the event page.

Together we can build the campaign to ensure Rishi Sunak says US nukes will not be returning to Britain!

Opposition to the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) – one of the world’s biggest arms fairs – begins in London next week. There will be days of action taking place from 4 to 14 September! See the Stop the Arms Fair website for the latest details on what’s happening.

Among the 1700+ exhibitors planning to set up shop at the ExCel London include key firms involved in maintaining and upgrading Britain’s nuclear weapons system such as BAE Systems. Others will be marketing their wares – from armoured cars and missiles to sniper rifles and tear gas – to some of the world’s most repressive regimes.

CND’s next webinar will discuss what DSEI is, how arms fairs contribute to global instability, and why peace campaigners must resist the return of DSEI to London.

• Wednesday, 13 September
• 7-8:00pm
• Online, register now

With guest speakers including: Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham; Richard Norton-Taylor, former Guardian defence and security editor, Board of DeclassifiedUK; and Kirsten Bayes, Local Outreach Co-ordinator, Campaign Against Arms Trade. Chaired by Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary.