Rethink Trident | Public Services Not Missiles

Public Services Not Missiles

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Write to George Osborne today. Let him know that you want to protect public services and cut Trident.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP

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Write to George Osborne today. Let him know that you want to protect public services and cut Trident.
Subject*		Talking Points Writing Tips -We can save £97bn by not renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system and this could help save some of our precious public services -A UK commitment to a new generation of nuclear weapons at this point would be deeply counterproductive to multilateral disarmament -How can it be that spending on building weapons of mass destruction is protected while investment in the 20 year Schools for the Future programme is scrapped? -The public have shown repeated in polls that they don't want new nuclear weapons
Message*	Dear [Recipient],
	Dear George Osborne, I am deeply concerned about the financial crisis our country faces and the prospect of severe cuts to our essential public services and to green measures crucial to tackling climate change. I find it very difficult, given the constraints we face, to understand why the UK is set to commit to spending an estimated £97bn on a new generation of nuclear weapons. Expenditure that is due to start at the end of this year. I do not believe that now is the time for the UK to commit to a new generation of nuclear weapons. Internationally the initiative led by President Obama, pursuing the aim of getting to zero nuclear weapons whilst negotiating cuts with the Russians, gives hope for further, real multilateral nuclear cuts in coming years. A UK commitment to a new generation of nuclear weapons at this point would be deeply counterproductive. It communicates internationally that the UK – which has made clear it faces no nuclear threat from another state - must replace its nuclear weapons system in case a future threat ever emerges. This position signals to other countries that it is acceptable, even essential, to build nuclear weapons of their own. Proliferation does not occur in a vacuum. Further - an increasing number of senior military figures are saying that they do not see nuclear weapons as relevant to the threats we face now and in the future. These threats are identified by the government as climate change, competition over diminishing resources and cyber-terrorism. Realistic alternatives to immediate like-for-like Trident replacement exist, including extending the life of existing submarines by a further 5-15 years as the US has done, facilitated by taking submarines off cold war permanent patrol. The fact that Trident was excluded from the Strategic Security and Defence Review (SDSR) means these options have been ignored. I urge you to extend the SDSR to allow for a full, transparent and costed review of plans to commit billions to new nuclear weapons. I look forward to hearing from you.
	Sincerely, [Your Name]
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