Stop the War coalition Newsletter, 24/07/26

Newsletter 24/07/26

Thousands marched in London last weekend, the 36th national demonstration organised by the Palestine coalition.

They demanded a change in foreign policy direction from new prime minister Andy Burnham – an end to wars, for sanctions on Israel, and to call Israel’s actions in Gaza what they are – a genocide.

Yet, just two day’s after the march, Burnham entered Downing Street and put the military industrial complex in charge of his government’s economic policy.

He handed the Treasury purse strings to a man who demanded billions for increases in arms and nuclear weapons spending, and gave defence to someone who had already called for a cut in welfare spending to fund the military – and who then made his first speech in the role at the Farnborough Air Show where arms manufacturers sell their wares.

Read Stop the War and CND’s response to Burnham’s cabinet choices. 

Wes Streeting reiterated the promise to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on weapons by the next decade. Meanwhile the government is struggling to explain where it will find the money to meet its ultra-modest promise to keep bus fares to £2.

It really is impossible to see how the social and economic ambitions Burnham claims to aspire to will be possible with such massive increases in military spending.

More than ever we must campaign for the government to cut war not welfare. Please sign our petition and also print it out to use at petitioning sessions in your towns and communities.

As Chris Nineham and Ben Jamal wrote, if Labour “got it wrong” over Palestine is it not time for a reset in the treatment of those who got it right?

Stop Bombing Iran

As the US’s attacks on Tehran intensify, join us and CND for an online public meeting to discuss how the anti-war movement should respond 

 Wednesday 5 Aug
 6.30pm
 Online

Register here

US bases out of Britain

A US B-1 bomber flew from RAF Fairford to bomb Iran the day after Andy Burnham took office, and he committed to allowing the US to continue to do so in his first telephone call with the US president. So he’s continuing with his predecessor’s complicity and enabling of Trump’s illegal wars.

Join us on Saturday 15 August to protest outside the base and demand US bases out of Britain!

If you’re in London you can book a seat on the coach here

Actions from the International Anti-War Conference

Actions from the hugely successful International Conference Against War on 20 June can now be accessed in one place on our website.

These include the trade union model resolution which commits branches to building the international days of action. Please get it passed at your next meeting.

Maz Saleem

We are very said that Maz Saleem, who worked at the Stop the War Coalition office for some time, has died.

Many StW members will remember Maz as a key figure in organising protests against Donald Trump during his first term. On one occasion she managed to get close to his motorcade in Brussels and make her views known.

Read our short tribute to Maz here. 

This week’s anti-war briefing