'A retrograde step' 

A statement opposing the expansion of the UK's nuclear weapons stockpile has been issued featuring signatories from seven denominations 

On Tuesday (16 March) the Government published its integrated review of foreign and defence policies, which stated that it is lifting the cap on the number of nuclear warheads it can stockpile by more than 40 per cent.

This was described as a 'retrograde step' in a statement issued later on Tuesday signed by several church leaders across the seven denominations. The statement was supported by General Secretary Lynn Green and David Mayne, moderator of Baptist Union Council.    

The statement reads as follows: 

“The Government’s decision in the integrated review of defence, security and foreign policy to increase the number of Trident nuclear warheads the UK can stockpile by more than 40 percent is a retrograde step that will not make any of us safer.

“Our Trident submarines already carry warheads that in total have an explosive yield equivalent to hundreds of the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima. It is immoral that the UK government is committing resources, which could be spent on the common good of our society, to stockpiling even more.

“Over the last 50 years, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has restricted the increase in the number of nuclear weapons worldwide as well as the number of new nuclear-armed states.  This announcement puts those gains in jeopardy and weakens collective action on non-proliferation. Progress on reducing the threat from nuclear weapons will come through dialogue, diplomacy and principled action. The Government’s announcement today will complicate rather than aid this process.

“The entry into force of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition in of Nuclear Weapons is an encouraging development. As people of faith, we join with millions across the world who are working towards the elimination of nuclear arsenals. Living up to our responsibilities under the Non Proliferation Treaty would be a step towards realising that vision. We believe that ‘Global Britain’ should strive for peaceful and cooperative international relationships, and joint endeavour on climate change, global poverty and other challenges. This announcement takes us in a worrying and wholly wrong direction.”

Signatories include:

Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York

Most Revd John Davies, Archbishop of Wales

Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church

Bob Fyffe, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain

Bishop William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, International Affairs Department, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, Chair, International Affairs Department, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Carolyn Lawrence, Vice-President of the Methodist Church

Revd David Mayne, Moderator of the Baptist Union Council

Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain

Revd Dr Joanna Penberthy, Bishop of St Davids

Revd Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Church


Image | Trident Nuclear Submarine HMS Victorious | Wikimedia Commons | Open Government Licence version 1.0