Stop the War coalition Newsletter 12/7/26

Newsletter 12/07/26

From the Nato summit in Ankara, to the reigniting of the conflict with Iran, this week saw a return to business as usual for the warmongers. The need to build and take forward the international anti-war movement could not be more pressing.

Following the international conference we are holding an online activist and groups meeting to discuss the next moves. Ensure you register for this critical meeting. 

Andy Burnham has made clear he is offering little to no change when it comes to war and militarism. So expect more of the same over arms spending, support for the war in Ukraine, Britain’s nuclear weapons’ policy and commitment to Trump and his brand of US imperialism.

The Nato summit showed Britain is no exception when it comes to aligning with Trump. The summit exposed European leaders’ willingness to dance to Trump’s tune, however discordant and inconsistent that tune might be. From lambasting the alliance for its lack of help over Iran to giving his ‘iron clad’ commitment to Article 5, Trump was nothing if not rude and erratic. 

In return Nato gave unwavering support for the latest US attacks on Iran and saw allies reiterate their agreement to massive hikes in military spending.

So Britain is to increase its military budget by 48% over the next three years – from £54bn to £80bn a year, while Germany intends to borrow the equivalent of £680bn for its rearmament programme over the next four years. And the alliance pledged an additional $40bn for new equipment to keep the meat grinder war in Ukraine going. 

President Erdogan’s departing gift to each of the Nato heads of state of a personalised engraved gun could not have been more apt.

The vast majority of the public do not support the massive increases in military spending being proposed by the government. According to a June Ipsos poll, just 37% support increasing arms spending if it means raising taxes or cutting services. Make it clear you are with the majority and sign our cut war not welfare petition, now available online. You can also printthe petition to hold petitioning sessions in your town centre or at your local station.

National March for Palestine Saturday 18 July

We demand actions not words

The pressure our movement has had on the government is making inroads. The PM-in-waiting has apologised for Labour’s initial repsonse to Israel’s attack on Gaza, which is of course welcome, but he refuses to call it a genocide. And apologies are not enough. We need action to recognise the genocide, immediately end all arms sales and impose sanctions on Israel and end the repression of those protesting genocide. We must keep up the pressure.

The national demonstration on 18 July will do just this. Make sure you join us on the streets to tell the new prime minister that we will be going nowhere until Palestine is free.

Coaches are being booked and the route has been announced. Find details of transport options here.

Building an international anti-war movement

The trade union model resolution agreed at last month’s International Conference Against War could not be more relevant. It commits union branches to building the international days of action agreed in the conference statement and future anti-war conferences in the wider labour movement. Please get it passed at your next union branch meeting and make sure your branch and trades council are affiliated to StW. 

Remember also to save the date of Saturday 10 October, which the International Conference agreed to make a global demonstration for Palestine. Alongside building for the 18 July national demonstration, let all your friends and contacts know, both here and abroad, about 10 October.

This week’s anti-war briefing