The town where Britain’s nuclear submarines are built, Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, needs investment in sustainable jobs, not to be dependent on weapons of mass destruction. Local CND campaigner Philip Gilligan explains more.
BAE Systems and the production of nuclear submarines dominate Barrow-in-Furness; visually, economically, politically and psychologically. The dockyard currently building the four Dreadnought class submarines designed to carry D5 Trident nuclear missiles and the Astute class submarines being built for the Aukus military partnership is by far the largest building in the town. It cannot be ignored nor forgotten.
Barrow’s schools, nurseries, care homes, and day centres keep stocks of tablets to be taken by children and other vulnerable groups in the event of the likely release of highly radioactive iodine following the meltdown of any working nuclear reactor. Schools are also regularly visited by BAE ‘ambassadors’ who will no doubt be encouraging attendance, in March, at the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Roadshow at Furness College.
This event, supported by BAE, the RAF and the Navy, will again tell them of the many opportunities for employment, sponsorship and apprenticeships available working in the nuclear industry, but is unlikely to mention Britain’s nuclear weapons system Trident’s role in making their town a prime military target nor the system’s potential to indiscriminately slaughter millions of people.
Building nuclear submarines has not brought prosperity to everyone. Many of the children attending the Roadshow are likely to live in one of the 29% of households in areas of Furness classed as being amongst the most deprived in England, while over a third of children living in Barrow’s central ward are known to live in poverty. Barrow needs better, more sustainable, economic development.
BAE Systems is by far the largest employer in the area, supported by £billions paid to it by the UK government. However, these are very expensive jobs which squander funds that would be much better spent on developing the sustainable and socially useful employment opportunities the region needs. Barrow and its skilled workers deserve better. They need policies that diversify employment opportunities and end dependence on the UK’s biggest weapons producer.
Campaigning against nuclear weapons in this context is far from straightforward. We are frequently told by the local media and local politicians that thousands of jobs depend on nuclear submarine contracts and that ‘Barrow is critical to the UK’s national security’. Unfortunately, the recently launched ‘Barrow Rising’ collaboration between BAE Systems, the government and Westmorland and Furness Council, still envisages a future which is very much built on producing ever more nuclear submarines for use by the military.
Cumbrians and Barrovians are too rarely reminded that Trident is an unnecessary, dangerous and expensive abomination. CND will be in Barrow on Saturday 22nd March 2025. We shall be saying loudly and clearly that Barrow needs investment in peace not nuclear weapons. Please join us there.