WWIII
The new site in Glasgow will help to supply Australia with nuclear submarines
The Aukus deal will develop nuclear submarines for Australia
(Picture: NZ Defence Force)
By Tomáš Tengely-Evans
Friday 22 November 2024
Friday 22 November 2024
SOCIALIST WORKER Issue
The warmongers of the Labour Party have opened a new site in Glasgow as a “clear demonstration” of their “commitment to Britain’s nuclear deterrent”.
Labour defence minister Maria Eagle opened the Rolls Royce office near Glasgow Airport on Friday. It’s for specialists who will help to deliver the Aukus programme—a United States and British agreement to supply Australia with nuclear submarines.
Aukus is part of the deadly arms race between the West and China in Asia and the Pacific. Eagle said, “The opening of the new Rolls-Royce office in Glasgow is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
“This investment is delivered alongside an important industry partnership and will support high-skilled jobs and economic growth that will benefit our prosperity and security for decades to come.”
Labour is pushing the lie that Aukus is good for working class people. Scottish Secretary, the odious Union Jack-waving Ian Murray, claimed, “Economic growth is the British Government’s top mission. I welcome the opening of this new Ministry of Defence funded office and the 120 high-skilled jobs it has created.”
Two of the biggest unions, Unite and GMB, go along with this pro-war, pro-arms argument. The STUC trade union federation’s conference in 2023 backed a motion slamming the Aukus deal as “heightening nuclear tensions in the Pacific”.
GMB opposed the motion saying Aukus would deter Chinese aggression, while Unite said it would put skilled jobs at risk. But the billions of pounds spent on Aukus could be invested into public services and green industries, as part of a just transition for workers in arms industries.
The British government has not provided an estimated cost of the Aukus programme, which will see submarines enter service in the late 2030s. But it did announce £3 billion in funding in March 2023. That’s a small fraction of what the final cost will be—yet this sum alone could pay for over 30,000 nurses.
The opening of the office came as the West ramps up tensions in Ukraine. Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to fire US-supplied missiles into Russian territory on Monday—and Keir Starmer quickly followed suit.
After Ukrainian forces fired the missiles, Russia bombed the country with an intercontinental ballistic missile—the sort that can carry nuclear warheads. President Vladimir Putin broadened the state’s nuclear doctrine, meaning Russian forces could use nuclear weapons if attacked by a non-nuclear power that’s backed by nuclear-armed states.
Imperialist rivalry between the West and Russia has torn Ukraine apart—and now threatens nuclear war. But, as the West pours fuel onto the fire, the Scottish National Party (SNP) first minister John Swinney said he “supports the steps taken” by the US and Britain.
Stop The War Coalition Scotland, the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the STUC has called a national demonstration in Glasgow on Saturday. Jeremy Corbyn is set to speak at the demonstration, and it is backed by the RMT, PCS, UCU, EIS and FBU unions, Scottish Lebanese Society and others.
As the West ramps up the drive to war in Ukraine and the Middle East, it’s vital to build the Palestine, anti-war and anti-imperialist movements.National demonstration: Stop all arms sales to Israel, Hands off Gaza and Lebanon, No war with Iran, Welfare not Warfare. Saturday 23 November, 11.30am, Glasgow Green
The warmongers of the Labour Party have opened a new site in Glasgow as a “clear demonstration” of their “commitment to Britain’s nuclear deterrent”.
Labour defence minister Maria Eagle opened the Rolls Royce office near Glasgow Airport on Friday. It’s for specialists who will help to deliver the Aukus programme—a United States and British agreement to supply Australia with nuclear submarines.
Aukus is part of the deadly arms race between the West and China in Asia and the Pacific. Eagle said, “The opening of the new Rolls-Royce office in Glasgow is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
“This investment is delivered alongside an important industry partnership and will support high-skilled jobs and economic growth that will benefit our prosperity and security for decades to come.”
Labour is pushing the lie that Aukus is good for working class people. Scottish Secretary, the odious Union Jack-waving Ian Murray, claimed, “Economic growth is the British Government’s top mission. I welcome the opening of this new Ministry of Defence funded office and the 120 high-skilled jobs it has created.”
Two of the biggest unions, Unite and GMB, go along with this pro-war, pro-arms argument. The STUC trade union federation’s conference in 2023 backed a motion slamming the Aukus deal as “heightening nuclear tensions in the Pacific”.
GMB opposed the motion saying Aukus would deter Chinese aggression, while Unite said it would put skilled jobs at risk. But the billions of pounds spent on Aukus could be invested into public services and green industries, as part of a just transition for workers in arms industries.
The British government has not provided an estimated cost of the Aukus programme, which will see submarines enter service in the late 2030s. But it did announce £3 billion in funding in March 2023. That’s a small fraction of what the final cost will be—yet this sum alone could pay for over 30,000 nurses.
The opening of the office came as the West ramps up tensions in Ukraine. Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to fire US-supplied missiles into Russian territory on Monday—and Keir Starmer quickly followed suit.
After Ukrainian forces fired the missiles, Russia bombed the country with an intercontinental ballistic missile—the sort that can carry nuclear warheads. President Vladimir Putin broadened the state’s nuclear doctrine, meaning Russian forces could use nuclear weapons if attacked by a non-nuclear power that’s backed by nuclear-armed states.
Imperialist rivalry between the West and Russia has torn Ukraine apart—and now threatens nuclear war. But, as the West pours fuel onto the fire, the Scottish National Party (SNP) first minister John Swinney said he “supports the steps taken” by the US and Britain.
Stop The War Coalition Scotland, the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the STUC has called a national demonstration in Glasgow on Saturday. Jeremy Corbyn is set to speak at the demonstration, and it is backed by the RMT, PCS, UCU, EIS and FBU unions, Scottish Lebanese Society and others.
As the West ramps up the drive to war in Ukraine and the Middle East, it’s vital to build the Palestine, anti-war and anti-imperialist movements.National demonstration: Stop all arms sales to Israel, Hands off Gaza and Lebanon, No war with Iran, Welfare not Warfare. Saturday 23 November, 11.30am, Glasgow Green
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