Lobby your MP: Stop British nukes jets!

Today, on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, CND is launching its new campaign against Britain’s reckless nuclear expansion that risks us all.

To start, we have secured a legal opinion showing that the government’s expansion of its nuclear weapons capability is in clear breach of international law. 

The new published today, finds that Britain’s purchase of 12 F-35A nuclear-capable fighter jets is in violation of its commitments under Article VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The article states: that, ‘[e]ach of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.’

In their joint opinion, international law experts Professor Christine Chinkin and Dr Louise Arimatsu, argue: “[t]he decision of the UK to purchase F-35a fighter jets rather than any other model is precisely because the aircraft can ‘deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons’ and thereby enable the RAF to reacquire ‘a nuclear role for the first time since 1998.’ Reinstating a nuclear role for the RAF represents a reversal of the UK’s long-term commitment to nuclear disarmament, including under the NPT.”

Despite the far-reaching consequences of this nuclear expansion, the government has failed to allow for any debate or vote on the decision. This is totally unacceptable. So we’re urging MPs and peers to help secure a debate. We need to make sure this is an issue that won’t go away for the government. It is just the first step in a public campaign that calls for a change in direction, away from warmongering and nuclear expansion, towards diplomacy, global cooperation and genuine security for all. 

What you can do to help

• Lobby your MP. Take two minutes to write to your MP asking them to support a debate in Parliament, using our easy lobby tool here.
• Share our social media. We have posted about the legal opinion and our lobby action on Facebook, HpZBwohRc56MzWuqFCfyJ3aLoV6LiIHWwyu4lJ4n13cRlHuUvL7_pKy13Ul5XXqFn1v_MjJYgGj0iiDOhcOESx2nkac4FDFlycIUEswrx81VvLiJPjDQAu6wKLP7se0m0/4k8/95tUZNXaR8WsVZrXwdhO4A/h7/h001.w3k4yE3mNhCvOS8i5dfoXbGQAmp19243on0Ibr1LJFk”>BlueSky, and Threads. Please like, share, and engage with the content to help further its reach on whatever platform you use.  
• Share the press coverage. The legal opinion has been reported on in today’s Guardian and on the Canary’s CND’s fringe at Labour Party conference. If you are based in or near Liverpool, or attending the conference, come along to CND’s fringe event this Sunday, 28 September. It’s located outside the secure conference zone so you don’t need a pass to attend. This year’s topic is the cost of Britain’s nuclear expansion and among the speakers is Dr Louise Arimatsu, one of the authors of the legal opinion. More details here.

Learn more about getting involved with CND’s Stop Britain’s Nuke Jets campaign on the dedicated webpage here.