CND has today secured an exclusive with The Daily Mirror newspaper exposing a shocking MoD cover-up, which has exempted US Forces from British emergency radiation regulations. The revelations were released in a declassified exemption certificate obtained by CND, signed by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in March 2021.

The certificate uses so called national security grounds to exempt US troops in Britain from any legal enforcement of safety standards, using powers under Ionising Radiations Regulations. This means they are not legally bound to have in place plans and measures for emergency situations involving radioactive materials and nuclear weapons.

It also means that local authorities will never be told about the presence of nuclear weapons in their area.

This is particularly dangerous given US preparations at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk for a new nuclear weapons mission. However, the exemption not only covers RAF Lakenheath but all US military bases across Britain! This shows that the government is more concerned about its special relationship with the US than people’s safety.

Read the article

Speaking exclusively in Monday's edition of The Daily Mirror newspaper, CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt accused successive British governments of engaging in a cover-up of US nuclear deployments while putting the British public at risk:

“The government’s exemption order smacks of a cover-up for a new generation of deadly US nuclear bombs being deployed in Britain. The government doesn’t want people to know what’s going on. That’s because a majority of the population don’t want US nuclear bombs here. The government has to put a stop to these deadly nuclear risks. That means PM Keir Starmer should announce publicly that US nuclear weapons will not be stationed here.

“It’s shocking the lengths that successive British governments have gone to, to prevent transparency and oversight of nuclear weapons. ‘National security’ is the constant excuse given to avoid public scrutiny of the dangers the population face all the time because of nuclear weapons. Whether they are from the dangers of accidents involving nuclear submarines based in Scotland, Barrow or Plymouth. Or whether it is new US nuclear bombs being deployed at RAF Lakenheath. Far from keeping people safe, all these nuclear weapons make Britain a target.”

Read The Mirror article online here, and please make sure you leave a comment opposing US nuclear weapons deployments to Britain! You can also help us reach more people by engaging and sharing our posts about the story on social media, including Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, and Twitter/X.

Read the full press release here.

RAF Lakenheath peace camp: one week to go!

There's just one week to go until the start of the peace camp outside RAF Lakenheath organised by the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace. The camp will see the permanent presence of peace campaigners outside the base from Monday 14 to Saturday 26 April.

Sign up to take part in the camp here. This helps organisers plan for food and accommodation needs

The two-week camp is also packed with events, protest and debate. A particular highlight is the international conference taking place in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 24 April. This brings together activists from across the world, including Japan, South Korea, Cyprus, the US, France, Germany and Belgium.

See the full list of speakers and book your free ticket for the international conference here.

The camp culminates in a blockade of the main gate on Saturday 26 April. There will be lots of different ways to take part in this protest, so – whether you have years of protest experience or none – everyone is welcome and needed!
There are coaches coming from across the country.

Find out more details and book transport here.