Trident Replacement?
The Issue of UK Nuclear Weapons
Prior to the vote in Parliament on 14th March 2007, the Social Responsibility Forum of Churches Together in Cumbria had urged all churches and church members in Cumbria to engage with the national debate about whether to replace the UK Trident nuclear weapons system. The Labour Government won the Parliamentary vote to press ahead with Trident replacement, but only with the support of the Conservative opposition, due to a sizeable rebellion by Labour M.P.s.
The Government's case for replacement was made in a White Paper. Click on this link to access the White Paper.
The majority of Christian denominations and many church leaders nationally spoke out against Trident replacement.
.For a summary of the issues and of the various views expressed by Christian denominations in Britain, click here to view the briefing paper issued by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland in June 2006.
Since this briefing paper was published:
1. The Methodist Conference passed the following resolution:
‘The Conference opposes replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and urges the UK Government to take leadership in disarmament negotiations in order to bring about the intention of the Non-Proliferation Treaty for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.’
2. The Roman Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales issued a statement urging the Government to decommission nuclear weapons. To read this statement click here
3. The Archbishop of Canterbury declared his opposition to the replacement of Trident on the day the White Paper was published (4th December).
4. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church issued a joint statement, also on 4th December, strongly opposing the replacement of Trident. To read this statement, click here: