Our Vice President Richard Burgon MP kicks off the 2021 AGM at 7pm sharp on Thursday 11 March 2021 with a keynote speech.
Participation is open to all Labour Party members who are also members of CND. You may nominate and vote for committee members, and submit motions.
Register in advance for a zoom link. Email Labour CND with your name and CLP.
PROGRAMME
Keynote speech by Fabian Hamilton MP
Shadow Minister for Peace & Disarmament
Roundtable with Jeremy Corbyn
US academic & peace activist Phyllis Bennis
and Gemma Bolton Labour NEC (pers cap)
Nuclear Ban Communities initiative breakout with Emma Dent-Coad and Matt Fawcett
Green Futures breakout with Sam Mason and Rae Street
with a little music from Hugh Greenacre
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REGISTER IN ADVANCE at LabCND Conf 2021
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There’s plenty happening for our guests to mull over on Sunday:
*** COVID – the government has spent £280 bn on Covid protection measures so far, and there’s still a long way to go. Trident replacement is costing £205 bn. Britain’s nuclear weapons system does nothing to protect us from any of the threats identified by successive UK governments for over a decade. Cancelling the project would go a long way to releasing some urgently-needed extra funding.
*** BUDGET – the UK economy has experienced the largest fall in over 300 years and government borrowing is at its highest ever level outside wartime. Why are we clinging to a nuclear weapons system that costs the earth?
*** MILITARY SPENDING – according to the Chancellor, the UK economy’s shrunk by 10%, so why are the Tories increasing MoD spending by 10% a year for the lifetime of this parliament? Labour CND is lobbying the Labour leadership not to support this increase.
*** TRIDENT – a recent edition of BBC Newsnight revealed the Tory government is lobbying President Biden to renew Trump’s commitment to funding the nuclear warhead which it shares with the UK’s Trident system, following the new administration’ announcement that it’s considering cutting back its $19 billion military spending package
*** GREEN NEW DEAL – nuclear, the elephant in the room
*** TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS – the TPNW passed into international law in January. The British government has said it will never sign up. Learn how the Nuclear Ban Communities initiative is chipping away at the impass
In November last year, Boris Johnson told parliament that the Ministry of Defence will get an extra £16.5 billion on their budget over the next 4 years. The government’s military spending plans include a Space Command, an Artifical Intelligence Agency, and other big ticket projects.
The MoD’s current budget is £41.5 billion, and the government has already promised a 0.5% above inflation increase for the next 4 years. This latest hike will mean a rise of between 10-15% a year in military spending for the rest of this parliament.
We think this is unacceptable. Labour’s front bench got it wrong when Keir Starmer backed Boris Johnson. If you agree, please join our online lobby today. Tell Labour leader Keir Starmer, Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey, and Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy what you think.
PS: thanks to everyone who responded to our call in December, and contacted your local Labour MP about this military spending spreee. Please follow through, and contact Labour’s front bench.
Join Labour CND’s online lobby here
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) passes into international law on 22 January. The Labour Party has yet to commit to signing Britain up. Read about the Treaty here and visit CND’s website to find out what you can do about it.
Helensborough CND’s conference considers the links between nuclear weapons and civil nuclear power. Labour CND committee member Rae Street is among the speakers, contributing on CND’s No to Nuclear Power campaign. Register now to hear an impressive list of specialists including Beyond Nuclear founder Linda Pentz Gunter and Arthur West, Scottish CND’s Trade Union Network and conference chair.
Register now for Jeremy Corbyn’s Project for Peace and Justice which launches 17 January with a start line up. The webinar includes Jeremy Corbyn will be joined by Zarah Sultana MP, Ronnie Kasrils, a South African Minister under Nelson Mandela, Yanis Varoufakis, Former Greek Finance Minister, climate campaigner Scarlett Westbrook, Unite’s Len McCluskey, and Baroness Christine Blower, former teachers leader.
‘You don’t have to take what you’re given. You don’t have to live without power and without hope. Things can, and they will change,’ says Corbyn. Visit the P&J website and read the mission statement of a project that aims to bring people together for social and economic justice, peace, and human rights, in Britain and across the world.
Writing in the Morning Star on 17 December, Socialist Campaign Group Secretary Richard Burgon called for ‘our whole movement’ to join Labour CND’s online lobby to persuade Labour MPs to oppose Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s £16 billion military spending increase. Burgon said: ‘Labour CND has launched a campaign to make the case for real security, tackling the climate crisis, global poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic — not a Tory military spending spree. It is one our whole movement should back.’
Read Burgon’s article here
Lobby your MP here
During a health pandemic, with the UK economy set to nose dive, and the majority of families struggling to make ends meet, Labour CND believes it’s a big mistake for our parliamentary front bench to support Boris Johnson’s military spending hike. Our representatives should be making the case for real security, tackling the Covid crisis, the climate emergency, and playing our part in combatting global poverty.
If your MP is a Labour MP, let them know what you think. Drop them a line right now using Labour CND’s online lobby.
And while you’re here, take a look at our model motion for your local Labour Party.
On 19 November, in a House of Commons update on the Integrated Review, Boris Johnson’s announced a huge military spendig hike. Reaffirmed by Chancellor Richi Sunak’s autumn statement, the government is committed to an increase of £24.1 billion over 4 years — that’s £16 bn in addition to the 0.5% above-inflation increase already promised. Responding for Labour, Keir Starmer welcomed the increase. Let Labour know their support for this Tories spending spree is misguided. Here’s what you can do:
Join Jeremy Corbyn and guests on Sunday, register here to attend our webinar co-hosted by our partners from Arise, A Festival of Labour’s Left Ideas
Download our model motion for your branch or constituency Labour Party
And please contact your Labour MP via our online lobby
