military spending & recruitment

Ten reasons why the UK should not increase military spending

Keir Starmer has pledged to increase the UK’s military budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. UK politicians and military figures are already pushing the government to go further, urging increases to 3% or higher - whilst Trump is pressuring NATO members to reach 5%.

The British Armed Forces should be investigated for abuse, not given further funding

Peace campaigners are calling on the UK government to hold the British Armed Forces to account for systemic abuse within their ranks and to halt planned rises in military spending.

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.

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.

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.