PRESS RELEASE
CND Condemns Government Motion on Trident Replacement as 'Hypocritical'
and 'Gesture Politics'
8 March 2007: for immediate release
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today strongly condemned the government’s
motion to replace Trident, which Parliament will debate and vote on next
Wednesday, 14th March.
The motion says:
‘That this house supports the government’s decision as set
out in the white paper The Future of the United Kingdoms Nuclear Deterrent
(CM6994) to take the steps necessary to maintain the UK minimum strategic
nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system and to take further
steps towards meeting the UK’s disarmament responsibilities under
Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.’
Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said:
‘That the government feels it has to make a gesture towards the
NPT and the principle of nuclear disarmament demonstrates what pressure
it has come under from the British people. But it is plain to see that
the two parts of the government’s motion are inconsistent. We know
that to pursue Trident replacement would be a material breach of the NPT.
Because the government appears to hold the NPT in contempt, this can amount
to nothing more than a pious incantation.’
In December 2005, a legal opinion issued by Rabinder Singh QC and
Professor Christine Chinkin of Matrix Chambers concluded that a replacement
of Trident would ‘likely constitute a material breach of Article
VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.’ (Note 2)
Ms Hudson continued:
‘The government have added a mention of the NPT because they know
this move is massively unpopular. They know that 72% of the population
do not want to proceed with Trident replacement now. (Note 1) Given their
record and their determination to pursue a new nuclear arms race, this
is nothing more than gesture politics. We want substance and a full consultation
and debate on the issue, and genuine moves towards disarmament.’
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Chair of Parliamentary CND, said:
‘The government wants to have it both ways, but by committing to
rearming they are going against both the spirit and the word of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty. If we really want to see a nuclear-free world then we have to
vote for it next Wednesday.’
CND has called an emergency parliamentary lobby on 14th March, the day
of the debate and vote on Trident replacement. CND has also organised
a rally in Parliament Square from 6-8 pm on the day of the vote.
end
Notes to Editor:
1. For a full copy of the More 4 / Populus poll please contact Rick Wayman,
CND’s Press & Communications Officer, on 07968 420 859
2. The full opinion is available at http://www.acronym.org.uk/docs/0512/doc06.htm
3 . For further information and interviews please contact Rick Wayman,
CND's Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
4 . An ICM poll from June 2006 showed that 81% of the British public believes
that any decision on Trident replacement should be made by Parliament,
not the Prime Minister alone. Click here
for a full copy of the poll.
5 . According to a July 2006 ICM poll, 59% of the British public opposes
a replacement of Trident when presented with a cost of at least £25
billion. Click here
for a full copy of the poll.
6 . The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s
biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the
UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
www.cnduk.org
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