Thousands of you answered our call over the past few weeks and contacted your MP over the renewal of the Mutual Defence Agreement – the secretive treaty between the US and Britain that underpins the London-Washington ‘special relationship’ and makes it possible for Britain to have nuclear weapons.
The deadline for MPs to submit opposition to its renewal expired on Wednesday 23 October with no debate in Parliament. This railroading is all the more shocking because the government has proposed to remove the 10 year renewal clause from the MDA, making the treaty permanent.
The government announced these proposed changes just before Parliament’s six week summer recess. There has been limited opportunity to discuss this since Parliament’s return with September and early October taken up with party conferences. For a major change to such a significant treaty to go through on the nod constitutes a shameful attack on democracy and transparency.
CND is now considering any further steps to oppose this nuclear agreement.