KEIR STARMER and John Healey’s reckless nuclear sabre-rattling is increasing nuclear tensions — all to justify huge military spending.

Starmer’s visit to Barrow-in-Furness this week was all pomp and ceremony, trying to elevate the dirty, deadly war drive he is trying to drag the country into.

Laying the keel to one of the new nuclear “Dreadnought” submarines being built at the shipyard, he also announced the town will be given a “royal” title in recognition of the town’s “unique and critical contribution to national security.”

Just hours before, in Faslane, he had commended the “brave sacrifice” of crew aboard one of the ageing nuclear-armed Vanguard-class submarines which had returned to the base, after more than six months at sea, one of the longest patrols ever.

Behind these photo opportunities for Starmer lies Britain’s aggressive, warmongering role in the world, the grim reality of its nuclear weapons system, and the war economy to back it up.

CND is determined to expose this. Which is why we’re organising a national protest tour at nuclear bases, starting with a demonstration at BAE shipyard in Barrow today.

The Starmer government has placed Britain’s nuclear weapons at the heart of its Strategic Defence Review and is clearly doubling down against the challenges it is facing around its nuclear dependence on the US, and the out-of-control spending.

As well as building Britain’s next generation of nuclear-armed submarines, BAE Systems at Barrow was awarded the contract to build the Astute class submarines as part of the Aukus Treaty. This treaty — in which Australia, a non-nuclear state, will possess nuclear-powered submarines — breaches the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It is part of the US’s growing military confrontation with China that could risk going nuclear.

While Starmer’s plans for a European army, with boots on the ground in Ukraine, appear to be taking a back seat, he is continuing to push for greater militarisation across Europe, now pushing for greater air and sea power.

His warmongering is to justify billions more for military spending, while cutting vital public services to boost more profits for arms companies.

Starmer is arguing that Barrow is a blueprint for “delivering security for working people and renewal for our country.”

Yet the reality for those living in Barrow, where these deadly nuclear weapons are built, gives a stark warning of what Starmer’s war economy could mean for our communities.

Barrow is dominated by BAE Systems’ shipyard, physically, economically and psychologically. Thousands of iodine tablets are distributed to Barrow’s schools and nurseries, care homes and day centres. These tablets are to be taken in the event of a nuclear accident. Along with the tablets, a booklet, entitled What to do in the Event of a Radiation Emergency is distributed to households and businesses around the dockyard.

But, as the World Health Organisation makes clear, these tablets would “not protect against any other radioactive substances that may be released into the environment.”

Accidents have occurred at the shipyard. For instance, just last year, a serious fire broke out at the shipyard, damaging one of the Dreadnought submarines.

Schools in the area are regularly visited by BAE Systems “ambassadors” to promote the arms industry. A Stem (Science, Technology, engineering and maths) Roadshow taking place at Furness College, supported by BAE, the RAF and the navy, promotes employment and apprenticeships at the shipyard.

The government argues that the nuclear industry brings prosperity to communities like Barrow. Yet nearly 30 per cent of households in areas of Furness are classed as being among the 20 per cent most deprived in England.

This the kind of “blueprint” Starmer’s war economy would really mean for Britain.

This is why we are challenging the reckless nuclear sabre-rattling of Healey and Starmer. They are both prepared to whip up international tensions in order to justify these huge hikes in military spending.

Pouring billions into war and nuclear weapons won’t kick-start the failing British economy, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves argues. This is because military spending is, in fact, one of the least effective ways of boosting jobs and living standards.

Economic analysis shows that investing in health is two-and-a-half times more “jobs-rich” than pouring money into military spending.
Nuclear disarmament is critical to a safer, more secure world for everyone. We need to end this dangerous war drive that risks nuclear war, that makes us poorer while profits for arms manufacturers soar.

Starmer’s government needs to invest in creating new, sustainable  jobs. The highly skilled workforce in towns like Barrow can be at the forefront of a dynamic green economy, building wind turbines, for instance. Securing serious, genuinely productive investment can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. This would help solve — instead of exacerbate — the existential crises we face.

Sophie Bolt is general secretary of CND (cnduk.org)