Labour's Starmer: I'll push the nuclear button!
On Monday, Keir Starmer confirmed he would be prepared to press the nuclear button, during a speech where he announced that Labour in government will maintain current government policy on replacing Trident with a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines, along with “all the needed upgrades.”
Starmer added that Labour would also commit to spending 2.5 percent of GDP on Britain's military, as soon as economically possible. The Tories have already said they would do this by 2030, which would see the defence budget rise to £87 billion annually.
But where's the bold new vision for security that we so desperately need? Responding to the announcement, CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:
“This policy just mirrors that of the existing government – more war, more military spending and more nuclear weapons. Patently obviously this approach is not bringing peace and prosperity in its wake. On the contrary. Billions are being wasted that should be rebuilding our decaying public services and improving people’s lives. It’s time for a change of policy. The old one has failed – we need to look to the future with a vision to work for peace internationally, improve people’s lives and make us genuinely secure, not an impoverished nuclear target.”
You can read CND's full response to the Labour announcement here.