Peace campaigners urge PM to withdraw use of Storm Shadow missiles

l-r: Lindsey German, STW Coalition Convenor; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Sophie Bolt, CND General Secretary; Ayoub Khan MP; Iqbal Mohamed MP.

Source: Stop the War, Vatican News

On Tuesday, MPs and peace campaigners handed in a letter to the Prime Minister at Downing Street, calling on Britain to end its reckless role in intensifying the war in Ukraine.

The hand-in took place as the emergency Ukraine-NATO council meets in Brussels, and follows a week of terrifying escalation. The decisions by the US and Britain, to allow Ukraine to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory has seen Russia lower the threshold for nuclear use and its launching of a new hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time on the battlefield.

The letter, signed by MPs Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn, Ayoub Khan, Shockat Adam, and Iqbal Mohamed, also expresses shock at recent statements by Britain's Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Magowan, who recently said that "If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight." These comments only serve to further increase tensions with Russia.

These developments and Britain's role in fuelling the crisis increases the risk of this conflict lurching into an all-out war between nuclear-armed NATO and Russia.

The letter calls on the British government to end this reckless escalation, withdraw the use of its Storm Shadow missiles, and use its influence in support of a ceasefire and peace negotiations.

Recent polling (Gallup poll, 19 November 2024) found that more than half of Ukrainians are now in favour of a negotiated settlement to end this war as soon as possible, while large majorities across Europe want an end to this suffering with a negotiated settlement.

Diane Abbott MP said: "Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives in this conflict. Instead of risking an all-out confrontation between NATO and Ukraine, Starmer should act on the wishes of the Ukrainian people, a majority of whom want an urgent end to the conflict through peace talks."

Jeremy Corbyn MP said: "As we edge closer and closer to catastrophe, we should be doing everything in our power to bring about de-escalation and peace. Instead, our political leaders are adding fuel to the fire and gambling with people's lives for political gain. Presidents and Prime Ministers must know that in the event of nuclear war, nobody wins."

Stop the War Coalition Convenor Lindsey German said: "The firing of US and UK missiles into Russia is a terrifying development which escalates the Ukraine war and demonstrates our own government's direct involvement in the conflict. We face a greater threat of nuclear war than for more than 50 years. This war is being lost by Ukraine and it will end in negotiations. The real question is how many will die in the meantime."

CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt said: "Political leaders need to step back from the nuclear brink. The actions of the British government are deeply reckless and are dragging Britain further towards an all-out confrontation with Russia. Starmer needs to withdraw the use of the Storm Shadow missiles as a matter of urgency. A nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought."

Last Friday Cardinal Pietro Parolin called for immediate action to prevent further escalation of war in Ukraine and emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict. He said the Holy See was very concerned with the situation in Ukraine and the possible consequences of the decision to fire British and American-made missiles into Russian territory and Putin's threats regarding a global conflict.

"I echo the thoughts and concerns of the Holy Father: we must stop now, while there is still time. This escalation could spiral out of control, with consequences no one can foresee," Cardinal Parolin warned.

Reflecting on the severity of the conflict, Parolin remarked, "It's hard to say if there has ever been a worse time during this war," but he added, "The current developments are certainly deeply troubling."

The Cardinal Secretary of State confirmed that the Holy See continues its efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges and secure the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia.

CND and Stop the War have called an emergency day of action for Saturday, 7 December in London, to show the strength of opposition to this dangerous escalation, and to call on political leaders to step back from the nuclear brink. (Details to follow.)