UK Government behaving like 'rogue state' over plans for more nuclear weapons on Clyde
Anti-nuclear campaigners have called on members of the public to report the UK Government to the United Nations over plans to increase the number of warheads available to Royal Navy.
The UK Government has been accused of behaving like a "rogue state" over plans to increase the number of nuclear weapons based on the Clyde.
Tory ministers announced in March the cap on missiles would increase from 180 to 260 as part of a recent defence review, despite years of gradual reductions in the UK's nuclear arsenal.
The decision to go for a 40 per cent increase in missiles, which will be loaded on to submarines operating out of the Royal Navy complex on the Clyde, has been described as an “abhorrent” by the SNP.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is now calling for members of the public to report the UK Government to the United Nations as it believes ministers are in breach of international law.
READ MORE: Gary Neville hits out at Boris Johnson after several England players racially abused onlineREAD MORE: Racist abuse of England players condemned amid calls for online platforms to be held to accountThe Record reported in May how a legal opinion by two academics at the London School of Economics has concluded it is inconsistent with the UK Government's support for the Treaty on Non-Proliferation, which is supposed to limit the increase of nuclear warheads around the world.
But the Ministry of Defence (MOD) insists that maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent capability at a minimum credible level was "fully consistent with our international legal obligations, including those under article six of the Non-Proliferation Treaty".
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: ‘It’s a fact: the Government is in breach of international law by increasing the UK’s nuclear arsenal by over 40%.
"So it’s no surprise that there has been widespread international condemnation of this move – some say its starting a new nuclear arms race.
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"People up and down the country have been outraged by this decision: it reverses thirty years of gradual nuclear reductions and makes us all less safe. CND wants to give a voice to that anger by allowing people to demand international action.
"Britain is behaving like a rogue state and we need the UN to intervene and uphold international law."
SNP MP Kirsten Oswald, chair of the CND Group in Westminster, said it was "vital" that Tory ministers respected the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"The UK Government are gaining a reputation for believing there is one rule for them and a different rule for everyone else," she said.
"But the issue of nuclear weapons is too serious for a government to continue under such a delusion.
"The Non-Proliferation Treaty has been in force for over 50 years and it is vital to the future of the world that it is respected by all signatories, including the UK.
"The UK Government have ignored domestic calls to halt their irresponsible expansion in nuclear capability, contrary to their treaty obligations, perhaps they will listen to the voices of the international community."
An MOD spokeswoman said: “Maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent capability at a minimum credible level is fully consistent with our international legal obligations, including those under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to the UK and our NATO allies. Our stockpile ceiling is a maximum if required, not a target nor our current number, and is kept under review.”