A massive thank you to all those who took the time to lobby their candidates on Trident and the Global Ban Treaty during this General Election. We were determined to ensure that nuclear weapons were on the agenda at this election – and not just as a ‘nuclear button’ question. Our lobby system and data collection have proved to be a useful tool for many, who have used the information we’ve collated to support their voting decisions.
We are hugely disappointed with the election outcome – a Conservative government makes our work for nuclear disarmament very difficult. But we congratulate all those principled politicians across the UK who have been elected and raise the banner of peace and nuclear disarmament.
We will continue to work at all levels across society and in parliament to ensure progress on scrapping Trident and cancelling its replacement. Thanks to all those who lobbied candidates we have lots of information about the views of incoming MPs and we will put it to good use over the next weeks and months.
One of our first initiatives will be to press the new government to send a top level delegation to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in April and May, at the UN in New York. All UK governments since 1970 have paid lip service to their Non-Proliferation Treaty disarmament commitments – but nothing is happening. Let’s hold the government to account on this – especially in this year when the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is likely to be ratified.
Above all, we must work together across society to strengthen and renew our movement. Change comes when we are united, mobilised and determined to make a difference. Whoever is in government we will advance the cause of nuclear disarmament and ultimately we will prevail.
If you are feeling like you want to do something positive today, then please join us.