With security a big focus in the election, we have put together a guide for talking to your candidates on crucial security issues.
We have also been through the manifestos of the five largest political parties to analyse and summarise how they are talking about ‘security’ and what kinds of actions they are pledging to improve international insecurity.
Before the election was called, we also looked at how defence and security, and specifically increasing military spending, was becoming a priority issue for the two main parties.
To help you stay informed on some more of the detail, you can check out our recent Paths out of Polycrisis podcast series that covers many of the same issues and is aimed at policy-makers. We also have a recent article on different parties’ commitments on military spending.
Rethinking Security members are also working hard to get their messages across to candidates and we have listed some of these below as actions you could take to amplify the need for sustainable human security that prioritises people and planet.
- Saferworld produced a briefing in 2023, Prevention and Pragmatism: Five Recommendations for how the UK can reduce conflict through development, diplomacy and security policy, to influence manifestos.
- Quakers in Britain have a General Election 2024 guide for Quakers, including key issues of democracy, peace, climate and migration on which to engage candidates.
- NCPO has put together a GE2024 Briefing to help Christian communities raise questions with parliamentary candidates about militarism and war, peace and justice.
- Medact have put together two template letters to ask candidates about their stance on nuclear weapons and home insulation – Homes for Health.
- GCOMS are continuing to petition for a reduction in military spending.
- CND have created a campaigning guide with background on the main parties’ nuclear policies.
- CAAT have an ongoing campaign on an arms embargo for sales to Israel and continue to highlight the UK’s involvement in the war in Yemen.