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| CND to stage die-in at Westminster nuclear weapons 'thanksgiving' | CND to stage die-in at Westminster nuclear weapons 'thanksgiving' |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Protesters are planning to stage a “die-in” outside Westminster Abbey on Friday during a service they say amounts to “a bizarre celebration” of the 50th anniversary of Britain’s continuous nuclear deterrent. | Protesters are planning to stage a “die-in” outside Westminster Abbey on Friday during a service they say amounts to “a bizarre celebration” of the 50th anniversary of Britain’s continuous nuclear deterrent. |
| Organised under the auspices of Gavin Williamson, who was sacked as defence secretary on Wednesday, the commemorative event was officially billed as recognising “sailors’ sacrifice” in supporting the Trident missile system and its predecessor, Polaris. | Organised under the auspices of Gavin Williamson, who was sacked as defence secretary on Wednesday, the commemorative event was officially billed as recognising “sailors’ sacrifice” in supporting the Trident missile system and its predecessor, Polaris. |
| But the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has condemned the commemoration – due to be attended by Prince William – and said it hoped hundreds of people would attend the protest and rally outside the church at lunchtime. | But the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has condemned the commemoration – due to be attended by Prince William – and said it hoped hundreds of people would attend the protest and rally outside the church at lunchtime. |
| It’s disgraceful that nuclear weapons are being celebrated at Westminster Abbey | Nick Megoran | It’s disgraceful that nuclear weapons are being celebrated at Westminster Abbey | Nick Megoran |
| A CND supporter was accidentally sent an invitation email from the Ministry of Defence describing the event as “a national service of thanksgiving” to mark the longest unbroken military operation delivered by the UK armed forces. | A CND supporter was accidentally sent an invitation email from the Ministry of Defence describing the event as “a national service of thanksgiving” to mark the longest unbroken military operation delivered by the UK armed forces. |
| Westminster Abbey released a statement saying the service was “not a service of thanksgiving or a celebration of nuclear armaments”. | Westminster Abbey released a statement saying the service was “not a service of thanksgiving or a celebration of nuclear armaments”. |
| Veteran CND leaders and supporters such as Bruce Kent, Bianca Jagger and Brian Eno are due to attend the protest but the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who joined CND when he was 15 and is its vice-president, will not be among them. | Veteran CND leaders and supporters such as Bruce Kent, Bianca Jagger and Brian Eno are due to attend the protest but the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who joined CND when he was 15 and is its vice-president, will not be among them. |
| Labour sources said Corbyn was expected to be elsewhere in England as a result of the local elections, and CND was not expecting MPs to attend because it takes place in the aftermath of the political contests. | Labour sources said Corbyn was expected to be elsewhere in England as a result of the local elections, and CND was not expecting MPs to attend because it takes place in the aftermath of the political contests. |
| Kate Hudson, the CND’s general secretary, said the sacking of the defence secretary on Wednesday represented an opportunity to halt the event. “Surely with Gavin Williamson gone, it’s an apt time to cancel his bizarre nuclear weapons thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey?” | Kate Hudson, the CND’s general secretary, said the sacking of the defence secretary on Wednesday represented an opportunity to halt the event. “Surely with Gavin Williamson gone, it’s an apt time to cancel his bizarre nuclear weapons thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey?” |
| Williamson had taken journalists to the Trident base at Faslane near the Firth of Clyde in Scotland for a briefing this week ahead of the event. He was fired by Theresa May shortly afterwards, meaning some parts of the briefing could not be used without looking out of date. | |
| It is understood Williamson’s replacement, Penny Mordaunt, who is also a naval reservist, is likely to appear at Westminster Abbey. | It is understood Williamson’s replacement, Penny Mordaunt, who is also a naval reservist, is likely to appear at Westminster Abbey. |
| The UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent, shortened in military circles to CASD, has consisted of four nuclear submarines, at least one of which patrols the seas, able to respond in the event of a nuclear strike. | The UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent, shortened in military circles to CASD, has consisted of four nuclear submarines, at least one of which patrols the seas, able to respond in the event of a nuclear strike. |
| One of the first tasks of a newly elected prime minister is to write a note to the Trident submarine commanders, giving them their orders in the event the UK has been obliterated in war and no functioning government remains. | One of the first tasks of a newly elected prime minister is to write a note to the Trident submarine commanders, giving them their orders in the event the UK has been obliterated in war and no functioning government remains. |
| It is often said one of the key tests a submarine commander can do to determine if their orders are to be activated is to check whether the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 is still broadcasting. | It is often said one of the key tests a submarine commander can do to determine if their orders are to be activated is to check whether the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 is still broadcasting. |
| A spokesperson for Westminster Abbey said the event would “recognise the commitment of the Royal Navy to effective peacekeeping through the deterrent over the past 50 years and will pray for peace throughout the world”. | A spokesperson for Westminster Abbey said the event would “recognise the commitment of the Royal Navy to effective peacekeeping through the deterrent over the past 50 years and will pray for peace throughout the world”. |
| • This article was amended on 3 May 2019. An earlier version sited Faslane on the River Clyde. This has been changed because Faslane sits on a loch that is off the Firth of Clyde. | |
| Trident | Trident |
| Nuclear weapons | Nuclear weapons |
| Defence policy | Defence policy |
| Military | Military |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Gavin Williamson | Gavin Williamson |
| Protest | Protest |
| news | news |
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