military spending & recruitment

Child handling a weapon at Armed Forces Day event

Declining interest in Armed Forces Day welcomed by peace campaigners

Joint press release by ForcesWatch and the Peace Pledge Union

Peace campaigners have welcomed the news that there will be no national event for Armed Forces Day this year, as no local councils have come forward to host it.

troops and police on streets

Pacifists pledge to resist national service, if scheme is implemented

British pacifists have said they will refuse to join or in any way support the military under the Tories’ plans to reintroduce national service, if the scheme is ever implemented.

Semih Sapmaz speaking on CO Day 2024

Refusing to Kill: Why we should listen to the voices of conscientious objectors

Earlier this year, when the head of the British army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, called for a “citizen army” to prepare for a ground war with Russia, military conscription was suddenly in the headlines, pushed by right-wing commentators and hawkish politicians.

CO Stone inscription

Israeli refusenik calls for an end to the persecution of conscientious objectors worldwide

An Israeli conscientious objector, due to speak at an event in London today to mark International Conscientious Objectors' Day, has called for support and solidarity for conscientious objectors facing persecution around the world.

British tank

Sunak accused of inflaming global tensions with 'war footing' military spending plan

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of ramping up global tensions with his pledge to increase UK military spending by £75bn over six years.

Troop and police officer on street

Say No to Conscription: PPU Statement on Army Chief's Call for a 'Citizen Army'

General Sir Patrick Sanders' call for a 'citizen army', raising the prospect of military conscription, reflect the increasingly aggressive militarism of the UK political establishment, as well as the broader rise of everyday militarism in the UK.

Reckless escalation: British pacifists condemn US-UK attack on Houthis in Yemen

British pacifists have called the attack by the US and UK on Houthi targets in Yemen a dangerous and irresponsible escalation in a conflict that threatens to engulf the Middle East.

PPU protests in 2023

2023 month by month - a year of peace campaigning amidst growing militarism

Spiralling military spending. Peace campaigners under attack in Russia and Ukraine. The devastating violence in Israel and Gaza. In 2023 there has been no shortage of war and militarism for peace campaigners to resist.

Stop supporting Israeli War Crimes, British pacifists tell UK government

The PPU joins other voices from the peace movement in condemning the horrific attacks on civilians by Hamas on Saturday in Southern Israel, including hostage-taking and the killing of more than 1200 people.

An armed solider and an armed police officer on an urban street

Putting troops on the streets would undermine British democracy

British pacifists have pledged to resist any plan to deploy armed forces personnel on British streets to carry out police functions.

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