Composite E (Covering Motions 19, 20, 21, 23 & 24)
Military Spending
“That this Congress deplores the militarisation of Britain’s economy at a time when funding for services essential for health, wellbeing and education are at crisis point and decarbonisation has stalled.
“Congress notes that UK defence spending has increased by almost 20 per cent over the past three years to at least £53 billion annually.
“Congress notes that the UK Government initiated the AUKUS pact in 2021 with the US which has resulted in the militarisation in the Pacific.
“Congress also notes that the U.K. Government has backed the US in opposing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
“Congress also expresses its concern about evidence that in April 2022 the British Prime Minister thwarted efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the Russia / Ukraine war. It is also noted that since April 2022 – the U.K. Government has refused to support countries from the global south, including Brazil and South Africa, calling for a negotiated peace.
“Further, Congress notes research by the Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs indicated that 1 billion dollars in military spending creates around 11,200 jobs. However, the research also shows that the same amount of spending would create 26,700 jobs in education. The report also indicates that spending on clean energy and heath care creates over 50 per cent more jobs than equivalent amount of spending on the military.
‘‘Congress reaffirms its support for a Scottish Defence Diversification Agency with adequate resources to play a part in diversifying the Scottish economy way from over reliance on military spending.’’
‘‘Congress calls on the General Council to campaign on peace issues in the run up to the general election, highlighting the crisis in the welfare state, the scale of poverty, that processes of Just Transition have been reversed, the impact of war on inflation, supply lines and spending to meet social need, and to stress that the massive increases in military expenditure, at the expense of spending elsewhere, is costing jobs not increasing them.’’
Mover: Midlothian Trades Union Council
Seconder: East Ayrshire Trades Union Council
Supporters:
Irvine & North Ayrshire Trades Union Council
Edinburgh Trades Union Council
Glasgow Trades Union Congress
RSS