As the summer draws to a close, GCOMS-UK Network Coordinator Russell Whiting attended Labour Party Conference to talk to MPs and members about our work opposing the ever-increasing military spending being pursued by the government, and hear from other organisations about the work they’re doing.
The Conference in Liverpool marked 450 days since Labour took office, and despite cuts to Winter Fuel Payments and proposed cuts to welfare for the vulnerable in society, there have been pledges of tens of billions of pounds more spending on the military. While there is support for this approach among most Labour MPs, there is a growing number who are willing to challenge this approach and challenge the leadership.
During the week Russell spoke to MPs about the upcoming Budget, due in November, and different approaches which can be taken rather than ploughing billions of pounds more into the military.
We also attended the CND fringe meeting – ‘Britain’s nuclear expansion – who pays the price’ which saw Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy speaking alongside Friends of the Earth CEO Asad Rehman and John Foster who was an advisor to the Alternative Defence Review. During an informative meeting there was discussion about the growing threat of nuclear war, addressing the climate crisis and spiralling military spending. Contributions from the floor focussed on some of the alternative solutions including investing in public services, addressing climate breakdown and tackling poverty.
