This is the big one!
Around 12th March Parliament is to vote on the Government’s decision to replace the UK’s Trident submarines with a new generation… continuing Britain’s nuclear weapon deployment into the latter half of the 21st century. For anti-nuclear campaigners this is the big one; yet there has been little publicity.
The big parties are in
favour of maintaining Britain’s nuclear deterrent (though
the LibDems are requesting a delay to the replacement,
and individual MPs of course hold their own views). The
Green Party is therefore an important player in the
national debate. But don’t assume this is a lost cause.
Who would have thought that MI6, Britain’s spies abroad,
would have exposed the latest New Labour deception in
blocking the Serious Fraud Office investigation into the
corrupt BAE arms deals with Saudi Arabia?
In the twilight days of the Blair regime, things are getting weird… support is crumbling, even at the heart of the establishment. The arguments against Britain’s nuclear weapons policy are overwhelming, not just with Greens, but even along the corridors of power (both Whitehall and Westminster). The principal supporting factor for replacement (beyond personal legacies and a handful of jobs in Cumbria) is the belief that the British public fundamentally supports a strong defence and a powerful role at the top table in the world. And that they can still be scared by some mythical threat projected into the future. Read Blair’s 12th January speech, and you’ll also find an explicit support for a vision of a warrior nation, crusading for western democracy and market capitalism against whatever forces oppose them. This is, of course, the real reason for the UK’s nuclear ‘deterrent’ – aimed at states who think they might retaliate against arbitrary invasion.
The responsibility of Greens is to prioritise an alternative, realistic vision, of sustainable communities living with mutual respect, at peace and governed by strong international legal instruments protecting human rights and genuine democratic structures - and a world without nuclear weapons. Greens will be marching in the national demonstration for nuclear disarmament, against adventurous wars abroad, and for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, on 24th February. We will also be involved in a number of other actions, including a lobby of the MoD on 7th February.
In the twilight days of the Blair regime, things are getting weird… support is crumbling, even at the heart of the establishment. The arguments against Britain’s nuclear weapons policy are overwhelming, not just with Greens, but even along the corridors of power (both Whitehall and Westminster). The principal supporting factor for replacement (beyond personal legacies and a handful of jobs in Cumbria) is the belief that the British public fundamentally supports a strong defence and a powerful role at the top table in the world. And that they can still be scared by some mythical threat projected into the future. Read Blair’s 12th January speech, and you’ll also find an explicit support for a vision of a warrior nation, crusading for western democracy and market capitalism against whatever forces oppose them. This is, of course, the real reason for the UK’s nuclear ‘deterrent’ – aimed at states who think they might retaliate against arbitrary invasion.
The responsibility of Greens is to prioritise an alternative, realistic vision, of sustainable communities living with mutual respect, at peace and governed by strong international legal instruments protecting human rights and genuine democratic structures - and a world without nuclear weapons. Greens will be marching in the national demonstration for nuclear disarmament, against adventurous wars abroad, and for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, on 24th February. We will also be involved in a number of other actions, including a lobby of the MoD on 7th February.
Plymouth
Green Party position on Devonport Dockyard and Trident
refitting
As one of the areas that would be deeply affected by the non-replacement of Trident, Plymouth Green Party would like to make its position absolutely clear.
We believe that the presence of the Trident refit work, and the whole Devonport dockyard, has become a major millstone around the neck of the City of Plymouth, stifling opportunities for the City to move on from its military history and find a new role for the future.
Plymouth has a long and proud association with the Navy, but this heritage is no reason to resist changes reflecting the changing nature of the world we live in. The dockyard is still an important employer in the city, but it no longer has the dominant role that it once held, and its treatment as a ‘sacred cow’ is inhibiting the development of a sustainable vision for the future of the city.
Just as we believe that the possession of nuclear weapons is no longer appropriate for the country, so, in common with very many residents and voters in Plymouth, we wish to see our City move on from its dependence on servicing weapons of mass destruction. We would welcome the scrapping of the Trident fleet at the earliest possible opportunity. Roger Creagh-Osborne.
As one of the areas that would be deeply affected by the non-replacement of Trident, Plymouth Green Party would like to make its position absolutely clear.
We believe that the presence of the Trident refit work, and the whole Devonport dockyard, has become a major millstone around the neck of the City of Plymouth, stifling opportunities for the City to move on from its military history and find a new role for the future.
Plymouth has a long and proud association with the Navy, but this heritage is no reason to resist changes reflecting the changing nature of the world we live in. The dockyard is still an important employer in the city, but it no longer has the dominant role that it once held, and its treatment as a ‘sacred cow’ is inhibiting the development of a sustainable vision for the future of the city.
Just as we believe that the possession of nuclear weapons is no longer appropriate for the country, so, in common with very many residents and voters in Plymouth, we wish to see our City move on from its dependence on servicing weapons of mass destruction. We would welcome the scrapping of the Trident fleet at the earliest possible opportunity. Roger Creagh-Osborne.
tim-summers@hotmail.com
Tel: 020-7737-6289
