Mushroom cloud rises over Liverpool as protesters call on Burnham to stop growing nuclear risks

29 Sept 26, https://cnduk.org/press-release-mushroom-cloud-rises-over-liverpool-as-protesters-call-on-burnham-to-stop-growing-nuclear-risks/

Protesters from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have unveiled a 20-foot mushroom cloud at St. George’s Plateau in Liverpool, calling on the government to stop increasing the risk of nuclear war and to instead focus on the real security issues facing Britain.

Protestors performed a symbolic ‘die-in’ underneath the mushroom cloud, highlighting the accelerating threat of nuclear weapons being used again in war.

In fact, this year, the hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. Atomic scientists say that the rising risks to humanity and the planet are due to countries expanding their nuclear weapons and the breakdown of international arms control treaties.

CND calls on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reverse the deadly role that Britain is playing globally through expanding its nuclear capability and authorising US nuclear weapons to be stationed in this country. The action coincides with his first speech to the Labour Party Conference as Britain’s Prime Minister.

The government is pushing ahead with replacing Britain’s current fleet of nuclear-armed submarines and buying 12 nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets from the US, both in breach of its commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Last year, overwhelming evidence suggested that US nuclear weapons are now stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

Hand-in-hand with this nuclear expansion, the government is increasing military spending whilst cutting spending to essential public services, overseas aid and climate action. The Defence Investment Plan, announced by the government in June, added an extra £15 billion to Britain’s annual military budget over the next four years. At least £7 billion of these increases have been funded through cuts to public services and climate action. Reports suggest the government plans to make even further cuts to public services in the autumn statement.

CND is calling on the government to reverse this deadly war drive and nuclear expansion and instead invest in saving lives not destroying them. These alternatives are laid out in CND’s new ‘People not Nukes’ report, which outlines how the £240 billion earmarked for Britain’s new nuclear weapons could be redirected into more productive areas of the economy which would transform areas like education, public health, and climate action.

CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt said:

“This protest is a wake-up call to the British government – who seem intent on dragging Britain towards nuclear war. Replacing Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, expanding its nuclear capability by buying US nuclear-capable fighter jets – all this is increasing the threat of nuclear weapons being used in war. And it only ties us all the more closely to the Trump administration. Giving permission to the US to station its nuclear weapons in Britain makes us a target in any nuclear war between the US and Russia.

“War and militarism is only driving climate breakdown and a global recession. To reduce the threats we face, we need a total change in direction from Burnham’s government, focusing on dialogue and diplomacy, abiding by its international obligations to disarm its nuclear weapons and tackling the real security threats we face.

“Halting the replacement of Britain’s nuclear weapons would release at least £240 billion over the next thirty years. Our ‘People not Nukes’ campaign shows that, redirected, this money can help transform society, provide real security we need and help make the world safer. This is what Burnham needs to focus on.”