WILPF UK supported the open letter which was handed to Downing Street on 17 November 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. This comes amidst increasing nuclear threats and breaches of international disarmament treaties.
CND report that 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 reads as follows:
Prime Minister,
Rethink disastrous nuclear expansion and drive to war
17 November 2025
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding your decision to purchase 12 US F-35A nuclear-capable fighter jets for stationing at RAF Marham. This marks a significant expansion in the country’s nuclear capability, meaning that Britain will be able to launch nuclear weapons from both the sea and air. Legal opinion on the purchase finds that the British government is in breach of its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
At a time of increasing global tensions and the rising threat of nuclear weapons being used in war, the British government should be doing everything possible to abide by and strengthen international arms control frameworks, not undermine them.
These F-35A fighter jets can launch US nuclear bombs now deployed to NATO bases across Europe, and here at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. These B61-12 bombs have been designed to be used on the battlefield, alongside conventional weapons. Yet the full destructive power of each bomb is more than three times that of the Hiroshima bomb, which killed around 200,000 people. Recent simulations by Princeton University show that use of these so-called ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons in an exchange with Russia could lead to casualties of 2.6 million people within a few hours – and many more afterwards, including through radiation and climate- related impacts.
With the ongoing devastating war in Ukraine and the horrific escalating conflict in the Middle East, Britain’s nuclear expansion will make the world even more dangerous. 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. It puts Britain on the nuclear frontline and increases the risk of such weapons being used in war.
Millions of people across the world are losing their lives, homes and livelihoods to climate breakdown. Globally, militarism accounts for 5.5% of carbon emissions. These F-35A nuclear- capable jets burn over 80 litres of jet fuel per minute when flying in their least fuel-intensive mode, and far more when carrying out high-powered manoeuvres.
Far from making the world more secure, expanding Britain’s nuclear capability will be contributing to climate breakdown and to greater insecurity.
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 at the NATO summit in June.
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. Estimates put the purchase and sustainment costs of the F-35As at over £2.5bn for the life-time of the jets. These are on top of at least £205 billion that is being spent on the replacement of Britain’s nuclear submarines.
We are also deeply concerned that the war-mongering rhetoric to justify these spending levels is also strengthening the racist, divisive politics of the far right which is further destabilising our communities and threatening our democratic rights.
We believe that your drive to ‘war readiness’, undermines national security and economic stability. Research shows that military spending is among the least effective ways to create jobs or stimulate long-term economic growth. Furthermore, your plans to more closely integrate the Ministry of Defence with the Department for Education risk damaging the educational and life choices of our young people.
We urge you to reverse this disastrous war drive, recommit to disarm Britain’s nuclear weapons, as obligated under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and work to pursue a foreign policy based on de-escalation, diplomacy, and international cooperation. 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.
This is the real path to security and prosperity.
Signed,
Maxine Peake
Katharine Hamnett
Victoria Brittain
Ken Loach
Zack Polanski, Leader Green Party of England and Wales Jeremy Corbyn MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Ellie Chowns MP
Ben Lake MP
Apsana Begum MP
Richard Burgon MP
Zarah Sultana MP
Brian Leishman MP
Iqbal Mohamed MP
Ayoub Khan MP
Shokat Adam MP
Sian Berry MP
Carla Denyer MP
Adrian Ramsay MP
Baroness Jennie Jones
Baroness Natalie Bennett
Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary
Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary Eddie Dempsey, RMT General Secretary Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary Steve Wright, FBU General Secretary Sara Kilpatrick, NEU President
Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary
Raghad Altikriti, Chair, Muslim Association of Britain
Kathryn Lydon, Chair, Pax Christi England and Wales
Paul Parker, Quakers in Britain
Paula Peters, Disability Rights Activist
Sophie Bolt, General Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
Kirsten Bayes, Campaign Against the Arms Trade
Campaign Against Climate Change
Rebecca Johnson, Acronym Institute for Disarmament
Dr Stuart Parkinson, Executive Director, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Okopi Ajonye, Nuclear Information Service
Richard Reeve, Coordinator, Rethinking Security
Dr Tim Street, Secretary, British Pugwash
Sarah Lasoye, MEDACT
Cllr Lawrence O’Neill, Nuclear Free Local Authority
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace
Lynn Jamieson, Chair, Scottish CND
Mabon Ap Gwynfor MS, Chair, CND Cymru
Tim Devereux, Movement for the Abolition of War
Lauren Muir, Policy & Outreach Officer, United Nations Association
Richard Outram, Secretary, Nuclear Free Local Authority (pers caps)
Fiona McOwan, Secretary, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
