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URGENT ACTION LETTER ON THE REPLACEMENT OF TRIDENT

The UK’s nuclear deterrent system, Trident, will come to the end of its life in the mid-2020s. The Government is currently considering whether Trident should be replaced.

We live in an uncertain world, but Britain’s chances of reversing the proliferation of nuclear weapons will not be helped if at the same time we develop further our own nuclear capabilities. There are other, more effective, ways of improving security around the globe, and many other demands on the billions of pounds a new deterrent would cost.

In November 2006, the Baptist Union Council is to vote on a resolution that would oppose replacement of Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. This follows a similar decision at the URC Mission Council meeting last month, and the Methodist Conference in June.

The Government has promised Parliament a debate and a free vote, but has indicated that a decision will be made by the end of the year. If you agree that our Government should oppose the replacement of Trident and instead press for non-proliferation, please seriously consider writing to your MP now and encourage others to do so.

Writing to your MP

You can write to your MP at The House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

If you don’t know who your MP is, visit www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ or ring the House of Commons Information Office 020 7219 4272

Writing personally to your MP has far more effect than signing a round robin-style letter. Similarly it is more effective for 10 people to write a letter than for 20 to sign a petition.

Explain in your own words why you believe that Trident should not be replaced. You will find a briefing enclosed which gives further details, but you might like to make some of these points – in your own words - in your letter. These points set out the pragmatic arguments against the replacement of Trident in the expectation that these are likely to be the most persuasive with many MPs.

• Our security from nuclear attack is best served by disarmament coupled with strong persuasion of non-nuclear states to forego development of nuclear arms. Further progress on non-proliferation has become urgent. The UK will find it much more difficult to influence disarmament or non-proliferation negotiations if we commit substantial spending to the development of a new weapons system.
   

• The Non-Proliferation Treaty calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the UK government has stated its unequivocal commitment to this aim.
   

• The end of the cold war and the threat posed by terrorism require a re-evaluation of ‘deterrence’, the value of which has long been contested. The Defence Select Committee notes that the government has not made the case for deterrence in the post-cold war era[1].
   

• The cost of a replacement of Trident is likely to be in the region of £15 - £25 billion. The cost of maintaining and running the system will be even more. There are more effective ways to use our taxes to make the world a safer place, for example alleviating poverty or tackling climate change.
   

• The Government has promised a debate, but intends to make a decision by the end of this year. This timetable is much too short. Ask your MP to support the Early Day Motion number 2702 calling for adequate time to be given to allow an informed debate.
   

• Ask your MP to write to the Secretary of State for Defence raising your concerns. Express your hope that, in the event of a vote in Parliament on this issue, they would oppose the replacement of Trident.

Remain courteous throughout whilst being clear that this is a significant issue for you. Ask your MP to write back to you to let you know how they would vote if the issue comes before Parliament in a free vote and whether they have signed the Early Day Motion (EDM). (You can check whether your MP has already signed the EDM at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/Default.aspx)