10 months ago
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The Chair and Secretary of the UK / Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities were amongst the signatories to a letter delivered on 17 November by a delegation of peace activists to Number 10 Downing Street calling on Prime Minister Starmer to abandon plans to spend yet more taxpayer money on F-35 A nuclear capable aircraft and nukes.
In advance of the June 2025 NATO Summit, the Prime Minister announced that the UK Government would purchase 12 F-35 A nuclear capable aircraft for the RAF by the end of this decade, and seek access to B61-12 airlaunched nuclear weapons from the United States. This nuclear arsenal would be in addition to the Trident missiles carried by the submarines of the Royal Navy.
It is understood that the aircraft would be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, but that the nuclear weapons would be retained in the custody of the United States Airforce at nearby RAF Lakenheath until a conflict breaks out. Even at that time, the UK can only deploy and use the weapons with the authority of the United States.
The letter represents the start of a renewed campaign by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament against the F35 acquisition. And you can get involved. CND are asking supporters to lobby their MPs to raise this issue in Parliament. Details can be found at:
https://cnd.eaction.org.uk/StopBritainsNukeExpansion
Nukewatch and the Nuclear Information Service has recently published an excellent report outlining the folly of the UK acquiring the F35-A aircraft and B-61-12 air launched nuclear weapons.
The report can be found at:
https://www.nuclearinfo.org/article/uk-nuclear-armed-fighter-jets/
The authors of the report believe that ‘the government’s decision is based principally on providing political ‘smoke and mirrors’ to distract attention from questions relating to the US – Europe relationship within NATO rather than developing a must-have military capability’.
After outlining the practical difficulties of repurposing the RAF to a nuclear capable role and achieving nuclear certification, as well as the enormous cost, the authors conclude that ‘it is difficult to see consistent logic or any need for the UK to purchase F-35 A aircraft and join NATO’s nuclear mission from a practical military viewpoint’.
CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt was a recent guest speaker at the September meeting of the NFLA Steering Committee. Sophie referenced a legal opinion sourced by CND that the UK in acquiring nuclear capable aircraft and access to nuclear weapons from the United States will, as an acknowledged nuclear weapon power, contravene its additional commitment under Article VI of the NPT to work ‘in good faith’ to achieve ‘at an early date’ nuclear disarmament.
A major national demonstration is now planned at RAF Marham on 28 February 2026.
Ends://..For more information please email NFLA Secretary Richard Outram at richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk
The letter reads:
Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KC MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
Prime Minister,
Rethink disastrous nuclear expansion and drive to war
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding your decision to purchase 12 US F-35A nuclear-capable fighter jets for stationing at RAF Marham. This marks a significant expansion in the country’s nuclear capability, meaning that Britain will be able to launch nuclear weapons from both the sea and air. Legal opinion on the purchase finds that the British government is in breach of its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
At a time of increasing global tensions and the rising threat of nuclear weapons being used in war, the British government should be doing everything possible to abide by and strengthen international arms control frameworks, not undermine them.
These F-35A fighter jets can launch US nuclear bombs now deployed to NATO bases across Europe, and here at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. These B61-12 bombs have been designed to be used on the battlefield, alongside conventional weapons. Yet the full destructive power of each bomb is more than three times that of the Hiroshima bomb, which killed around 200,000 people. Recent simulations by Princeton University show that use of these so-called ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons in an exchange with Russia could lead to casualties of 2.6 million people within a few hours – and many more afterwards, including through radiation and climate-related impacts.
With the ongoing devastating war in Ukraine and the horrific escalating conflict in the Middle East, Britain’s nuclear expansion will make the world even more dangerous. Far from protecting the British population, your decision to buy US nuclear capable fighter jets, that can launch US B61-12 nuclear bombs, ties Britain even closer to the dangerous leadership of US President Donald Trump. It puts Britain on the nuclear frontline and increases the risk of such weapons being used in war.
Millions of people across the world are losing their lives, homes and livelihoods to climate breakdown. Globally, militarism accounts for 5.5% of carbon emissions. These F-35A nuclear-capable jets burn over 80 litres of jet fuel per minute when flying in their least fuel-intensive mode, and far more when carrying out high-powered manoeuvres. Far from making the world more secure, expanding Britain’s nuclear capability will be contributing to climate breakdown and to greater insecurity.
Given the grave consequences of this expansion, including Britain’s breach of international law, it is also deeply concerning that no opportunity was given for parliament to debate or vote on this decision before it was announced at the NATO summit in June.
We see this nuclear expansion as part of the war drive which is draining public funds away from essential public services and making the population poorer. Estimates put the purchase and sustainment costs of the F-35As at over £2.5bn for the lifetime of the jets. These are on top of at least £205 billion that is being spent on the replacement of Britain’s nuclear submarines. We are also deeply concerned that the war-mongering rhetoric to justify these spending levels is also strengthening the racist, divisive politics of the far right which is further destabilising our communities and threatening our democratic rights.
We believe that your drive to ‘war readiness’, undermines national security and economic stability. Research shows that military spending is among the least effective ways to create jobs or stimulate long-term economic growth. Furthermore, your plans to more closely integrate the Ministry of Defence with the Department for Education risk damaging the educational and life choices of our young people.
We urge you to reverse this disastrous war drive, recommit to disarm Britain’s nuclear weapons, as obligated under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and work to pursue a foreign policy based on de-escalation, diplomacy, and international cooperation. Instead of pouring hundreds of billions into lethal weapons, action needs to be focused on tackling the underlying causes threatening our human security. This means reversing the devastating poverty, deprivation and crumbling public services that mark our communities, investing in sustainable homes, rebuilding our health and education systems, and funding a just transition through green jobs, skills and infrastructure. This is the real path to security and prosperity.
Signed,
