Motion 17 & Amendment
Military Spending, Public Services and Jobs
“That this Congress deplores the militarisation of Britain’s economy at a time when funding for services essential for health, well-being and education are at crisis point and decarbonisation has stalled. UK Defence Spending has increased by 20% over three years and stands at £53 billion for 2023-24 (£57 billion if current levels of military aid to Ukraine are maintained). That for housing and the environment is just £38 billion, for personal social services £43 billion and all sectors of education £131 billion.
“Over these years the British Government has been a persuader for war not peace. Its initiation, with the US, of the AUKUS pact in 2021 resulted in militarisation in the Pacific. During the Israeli assault on Gaza it backed the US in opposing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. In face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine the intervention by Britain’s prime minister in April 2022 thwarted efforts for a negotiated settlement. Since then the British Government refused to support countries from the global south, including Brazil and South Africa, calling for a negotiated peace.
“Congress therefore calls on the General Council to be an educator for peace in the run-up to the general election; to highlight the crisis of Scotland’s welfare state; the scale of poverty; the impact of war on inflation and supply lines; that processes of Just Transition have been reversed, and to stress that the massive increase in military expenditure, at the expense of spending elsewhere, is costing jobs not increasing them.”
Mover: Clydebank Trades Union Council
Amendment
Para 1, line 6 delete “(£57 billion if current levels of military aid to Ukraine are maintained)”
Para 2, line 5 delete the sentence “In the face of Russia’s aggression……negotiated settlement.”
Mover: Dumfries & Galloway Trades Union Council
RSS