CND News

In this email:

• Trade unionists, MPs, and civil society speak out against nuke jet expansion
• CND conference workshops to analyse Britain’s rearmament and build opposition 
• Documentary explores the toxic legacy of Britain’s nuclear testing

Call are growing to stop Britain’s dangerous nuclear expansion. A letter signed by leading trading unionists, cross-party MPs and politicians, and dozens of civil society organisations, is being delivered to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. It calls on him to rethink the disastrous move to purchase US nuclear-capable F-35A jets that tie Britain even closer to Donald Trump’s accelerating nuclear escalation.

This purchase breaches Britain’s obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, undermines democracy, and increases nuclear risks. The letter will be delivered to Downing Street on Monday so keep an eye out on CND’s social media and please share. You can read more about the hand-in and see who has signed lobby tool to write to your MP, asking for an urgent debate on the F-35A purchase and help us stop British nuke jets!

CND’s conference – Just one week to go!

Britain’s nuclear weapons expansion must be seen in the context of what’s driving the growing militarisation in Europe.

Our latest round of workshop announcements at our conference, ‘Stop nuclear expansion: how to reverse the government’s war drive’, will explore the causes and justifications behind Britain’s war drive. They cover such topics as the war in Ukraine and the nuclear tensions between Russia and NATO, myth busting Britain’s military-industrial strategy; and hear from campaigners opposing nuclear weapons across Britain.  

Ukraine, Russia and NATO – How to stop the nuclear escalation with:

Ludo de Brabander, journalist and spokesperson with Belgian peace organisation Vrede; Kate Hudson, CND Vice-President; Tom Unterrainer, CND Chair.

Promote the panel on social media: X / Bluesky / Threads / Instagram

Exposing the ‘defence dividend’ myth with:

Miceala Tracey-Ramos, UNISON NEC; Professor Karen Bell, editor of the Alternative Defence Review; Alex Gordon, former RMT President.

Promote the panel on social media: Bluesky / Threads / Facebook / Instagram

Stopping Britain’s nuclear nightmare with:

Lynn Jamieson, Chair, Scottish CND; Dylan Lewis-Rowland, National Secretary, CND Cymru; Di McDonald, anti-nuclear campaigner; Tony Staunton, CND Vice-Chair.

Promote the panel on social media: X / Bluesky / Threads / Facebook / Instagram

A full timetable of workshops and speakers can be found hZEk863rnbg”>X / Bluesky / Facebook / Instagram.

Documentary explores the toxic legacy of Britain’s nuclear testing

Last week, CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt attended a private screening of the powerful documentary, Our Planet, The People, Our Blood. Due for release in 2026, it looks at the global legacy of nuclear testing – from British test veterans, to indigenous populations in Australia and the Marshall Islands, to the Downwinders in Nevada – and the ongoing, physical and psychological health impacts. You can hear responses to the documentary here and keep up to date with it on Instagram here. As Donald Trump raises the possibility of a return to explosive nuclear testing, the film is an important reminder of why we need to build global pressure against it. CND will be work with the documentary team to organise screenings in universities and colleges across the country the new year. If you are a student and would like your university or college to host a screening, please get in touch.