Dear Editor,

The Democrats are introducing legislation in the USA to transfer $1billion from a new intercontinental ballistic missile programme to developing a universal coronavirus vaccine. In a neat title they have called this, The Investing in Cures Before Missiles (ICBM) Act. This would stop funding for the proposed ground based strategic so called, deterrent, over its lifespan and discontinue spending on a linked warhead modification. Now, of course, that isn't going to be a dramatic change in weapons policy as the act proposes extending the life of the Minuteman III. But it is still a step in the right direction. As Senator Ed Markey said, "The ICBM Act makes clear that we can begin to phase out the cold war nuclear posture while still deterring adversaries and assuring allies and re-direct those savings to the clear and present dangers presented by coronaviruses and other emerging diseases."

But what is happening here in the UK? We have a government committed to raising the number of nuclear warheads on Trident by over 40% and increasing military spending by £24 billion, while the Labour Party's leaders state that they give complete support to Trident whose replacement will cost £205 billion. At the same time the NHS, local government social services, which were even before COVID crying out for funds, now desperately need more funding for 'clear and present dangers'. Where are the mainstream politicians who would draft a bill to transfer money from nuclear weapons funding to health and social welfare? A Treatment Before Trident Bill.

Yours sincerely,

Rae Street