Prime Minister urged to halt nuclear expansion

Letter handing in at Downing Street, Credit: Pax Christi

Source: Pax Christi England and Wales

Faith groups have joined political leaders, MPs, and Trade Union leaders to urge the Prime Minister to reverse the decision to purchase US nuclear-capable fighter jets. They say the purchase breaches international law, heightens nuclear risks and ties Britain closer to the Trump administration. The call comes as report show chaos and spiralling costs of fighter jet programme.

On Monday, 17 November, a letter was handed into Downing Street calling on the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to rethink his decision to purchase 12 nuclear-capable F-35A jets, to be stationed at RAF Marham. The jets have been designed to launch deadly US nuclear bombs, now very likely deployed across Europe and in Britain.

Chief Executive of Pax Christi England and Wales, Andrew Jackson, was at Downing Street, and he said: "At a time when we're seeing global suffering due to war and climate breakdown, we're calling on the government to put peace, not militarism, at the heart of its defence and foreign policymaking."

This comes amidst increasing nuclear threats and breaches of international disarmament treaties. In the letter, signatories argue, "far from protecting the British population, your decision to buy US nuclear capable fighter jets, that can launch US B61-12 nuclear bombs, ties Britain even closer to the dangerous leadership of US President Donald Trump" and "increases the risk of such weapons being used in war." It goes on to state, "we see this nuclear expansion as part of the war drive which is draining public funds away from essential public services and making the population poorer."

The letter hand-in follows a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that has exposed the chaos and spiralling costs already associated with government's decision to buy nuclear-capable fighter jets from the Trump administration. The Committee's report reveals that the Ministry of Defence had little understanding of the technical and financial implications of Britain joining NATO's nuclear mission when Starmer announced the purchase at the NATO summit in June. PAC Chair described the MoD's spending forecasts as "unrealistic." The National Audit Office now calculates the full programme of 138 fighter jets could cost at least £71 billion, with even more - as yet unknown - costs involved in joining NATO's nuclear missions.

The letter states, "given the grave consequences of this expansion, including Britain's breach of international law, it is also deeply concerning that no opportunity was given for parliament to debate or vote on this decision before it was announced."

The letter concludes by urging that "instead of pouring hundreds of billions into lethal weapons, action needs to be focused on tackling the underlying causes threatening our human security. This means reversing the devastating poverty, deprivation and crumbling public services that mark our communities, investing in sustainable homes, rebuilding our health and education systems, and funding a just transition through green jobs, skills and infrastructure."

Public Affairs and Media Manager at Quakers in Britain Grace Da Costa said: "Investing in more nuclear weapons will not help the poorest and most vulnerable in our society and will only contribute to further climate breakdown and conflict."

Signatories include:

CND, Campaign against the Arms Trade, Movement for the Abolition of War, Muslim Association of Britain, Pax Christi England and Wales, United Nations Association.

LINK

https://paxchristi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Letter-to-Keir-Starmer-with-signatories.pdf