Defence Diversification: Its Time is Now

CND’s TUC Congress 2020 fringe meeting. Visit the website to learn about CND’s work with trade unions and to affiliate your branch.

As the pandemic hit hard in the early stages of the lockdown, government urged rapid changes in industrial production. Many companies, including those that that make parts of the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system, switched to making ventilators, protective visors and other NHS and PPE requirements. This experience shows it can be done – and it has never been more urgent to produce for the public good.

Chair: Kate Hudson, General Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Speakers: Sam Mason, PCS Policy Officer Hilary Wainwright, Red Pepper, participant in original Lucas Plan initiative Bert Schouwenburg, former International Officer GMB

With Annie Tunnicliffe, CND’s trade unions worker.

Further information:

Nuclear weapons provide no protection against the multiple crises we are facing

Britain’s pandemic response shows we can move beyond a militarised economy

Swords into ploughshares; planes into ventilator parts

A tribute to Mike Cooley

Liverpool against the Electronic Warfare Arms Fair


We are calling for the cancellation of the Electronic Warfare Europe arms fair, at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, and for the commitment that no arms fairs will be held in any City Council owned building in future.

On 16-18 November 2020 international arms companies are due to meet up with military delegations from around the globe to show off the latest electronic warfare technology at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

This technology is sold at great profit to countries in conflict, authoritarian regimes and countries carrying out serious and well documented human rights offences.

This event should not be held in Liverpool, especially in a building that is effectively owned by the people of this city. It should be cancelled immediately and a firm commitment made never to hold any such event in the city’s publicly owned buildings ever again.

The Exhibition Centre is 100% owned by Liverpool City Council. It is managed for the city by The ACC Liverpool Group. The City Mayor and Deputy Mayor are on the board of the ACC Liverpool Group.

The ACC Liverpool Group describes itself as an ethical and responsible company and has previously cancelled two events under pressure from the City Council.