CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

This is an amendment to an existing motion

This motion was originally tabled by Mr Martin Caton on 21 January 1998. This is amendment number 1.

View details of the original motion

Suggested amendment

leave out from 'House' to end and add `notes that for 40 years the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has demanded the one-sided abandonment by Britain of nuclear weapons, nuclear bases and nuclear alliances, without success; realises that suc h a policy, if implemented, would have left Britain in a state of helpless neutrality at the height of the Cold War; recalls that CND totally rejected President Reagan's 1981 Zero Option offer which led to the successful Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, once unilateralism had been defeated; further notes that, under the provisions of the INF Treaty, hundreds of Soviet SS20 missiles threatening Western Europe were destroyed in return for the scrapping of NATO's cruise and Pershing II missiles which CND had fortunately failed to prevent from being deployed; deplores the statement by CND's then General Secretary, Bruce Kent, in 1983 that Britain's Communists were CND's "partners in the cause for peace in this world"; realises that the Labour Party's support for CND's anti-nuclear policies was a key factor in Labour's heavy defeats in the 1983 and 1987 general elections; further recalls the deletion of CND membership details from dozens of Labour candidates' official biographies during the 1992 General Election campaign, by Party Headquarters staff; and doubts if many unilateralist Labour and Liberal ho nourable Members will have the courage openly to support CND on its 40th anniversary.'.

Original motion text

That this House congratulates the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on its 40 years' fighting to remove the deadly threat of nuclear weapons; recalls that when CND was founded in February 1958 it was a popular movement against nuclear arms building upon the decision in 1957 by the Labour Party and TUC to campaign against atmospheric atomic tests; remembers with pleasure the involvement of the Right honourable Michael Foot, the former leader of the Labour Party, in the founding of CND; remains concerned that in the same year as CND was established the Conservative Government concluded a nuclear exchange agreement with the United States that led to the purchase of Polaris and Trident nuclear weapons and submarines, and the barter of nuclear explosive materials; recalls the work done by CND at the Sizewell and Hinkley public enquiries to expose the export of United Kingdom civil plutonium to the United States for use in weapons; welcomes the admission by the United States Department of Energy on 22nd December last year that 5,400 kilogrammes of United Kingdom plutonium was sent to the United States between 1960 and 1979, which vindicated CND's allegations; and applauds CND's continued work to oppose Trident and to expose the danger of nuclear weapons production and deployment; and wishes the campaign every success.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

EDM (Early Day Motion) 673A1: tabled on 26 January 1998

This is an amendment to an existing motion

Suggested amendment

Original motion text

Signatures (57)