- Demonstration comes as opposition grows to Britain’s so-called ‘special relationship’ with President Donald Trump
- ‘Backroom’ deal of nuclear jets sees costs already spiralling
- Base is central hub for F-35 parts transported to US and Israel
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, along with a coalition of trade unions, civil society, and faith groups*, will gather at RAF Marham on Saturday, 28 February to protest against Britain’s purchase of nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets, and demand that Keir Starmer reverses the plan to give the Royal Air Force a nuclear role for the first time in nearly 30 years.
The protest comes as opposition to Britain’s military alliance with the reckless leadership of US President, Donald Trump, is growing.
Announced by Keir Starmer at the NATO summit last June, without any debate or vote in Parliament on expanding Britain’s nuclear capabilities, the jets will be assigned to NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft mission. RAF pilots will be trained to fly US B61-12 nuclear bombs that are likely now deployed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.
These bombs have three times the destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb that killed over 200,000 people. They have been designed by the US to be used on the battlefield, against troops and conventional weapons. Modelling provided from Princeton University warns that the use of these so-called ‘battlefield nukes’ could quickly escalate into a wider conflict leading to 2.6 million deaths in just the first few hours.
The rushed announcement by Starmer at last year’s NATO summit, was made without parliamentary debate. Following evidence by Defence Secretary, John Healey, to the Public Accounts Committee it became clear that Starmer had no knowledge of the costs or even if the programme is deliverable. National Audit Office estimates that Britain’s F-35 programme – which will include a total of 75 nuclear-capable aircraft and 63 non-nuclear jets – will cost at least £71 billion. That’s without the additional costs of the lengthy integration into NATO’s nuclear mission. The purchase of the new jets will increase profits for US arms company Lockhead Martin.
RAF Marham is also a key transport hub for F-35 parts made in Britain. Israel’s F-35s have been used extensively in its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Between 2023 and 2024, 14 shipments were sent directly to Nevatim Airbase in Israel. Now, the base continues to transport parts to the US, which are forwarded onto Israel.
This crucial protest is part of a campaign supported by leading trade union and political figures demanding Keir Starmer halt the nuclear expansion and focus on diplomacy and dialogue to de-escalate global tensions, cooperate globally to solve the urgent security risks of climate breakdown and worsening social deprivation.
- Saturday, 28 February
- 1:00pm-3:00pm
- RAF Marham, Upper Marham, King’s Lynn, PE33 9NP
- Protesters will assemble at Queen Elizabeth II Gate, the main entrance for RAF Marham, on Burnthouse Drove. More details and map here
- Protest includes rally, briefing about the base, music and XR drummers.
- Photo stunt (approximately 2pm): Break the link with Donald Trump!
CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt said:
“Buying US nuclear-capable fighter jets that launch US nuclear weapons has nothing to do with keeping the British population safe. It’s a backroom deal that will cost us tens of billions and bind us even closer to Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda. This is making the world even more chaotic and dangerous. It’s time for a reset. We need an independent foreign policy that respects international law, resolves conflict through diplomacy and dialogue and champions global cooperation to halt climate breakdown. Such a reset would free up hundreds of billions to tackle the real security issues we face like climate breakdown and social deprivation.”
Stop the War Coalition Convenor Lindsey German said:
“At a time when the government is considering hiking defence spending to 3% of GDP within the next five years at a cost of £15 billion to taxpayers – appeasing Trump at every step of his way to the next world war – and as we mark four years of the Ukraine war, with around 1.5m casualties on both sides, we have to demand peace, no more forever wars and no threats of nuclear war. That’s why I’m pleased to be joining CND’s demo at RAF Marham next Saturday.”