UK campaigners call for spending shift from weapons to welfare

April 15, 2014 by IPB

UK arms trade campaigners said they were angry as new Stockholm International Peace Research Institute figures put Britain among the world’s biggest military spenders.

Campaigners call for government spending to be redirected to vital services and away from weapons and war.

• UK military spending sixth highest in the world
• Campaign events taking place in 11 UK cities as part of Global Day of Action on Military Spending

The UK plans to spend £38 billion in 2014/15, and has committed to renewing trident nuclear weapons at a cost of £100 billion.

Campaigners, who will be marking the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, have called for military spending to instead be redirected towards vital public services.

SIPRI’s report reveals that global military spending is estimated to be roughly $1.75 trillion, with large increases having taken place in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America in the last year.

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