The Strategic Defence Review and National Security Strategy, both published in June 2025, saw the UK government commit decisively to a highly militarised version of national security. In a move away from all previous such UK strategies, human security concerns and global ecological sustainability were virtually absent from the NSS’s analysis and actions, as military threats, responses and spending were overwhelmingly prioritised.
This series of three webinars explores with those working for positive change the impact of this step-change across a number of critical issues for people and planet.
Register for the first one here:
Over the last few years, we have witnessed public pressure on the UK government to act against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and the US war on Iran. However, successive attempts to expose UK complicity in conflicts and challenge national security, foreign and climate policy have been ignored or suppressed by legal changes to policing and protest. The result is a chilling effect. Why is this happening and who or what is being sidelined in the UK as a result?
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Leila Laing is Government Relations Advisor for Minorities in Peace and Security. Leila is a government relations and strategic communications advisor with expertise in public affairs and stakeholder engagement. With a track record of advising governments, corporations, and NGOs, Leila specialises in shaping narratives that drive impact. Drawing on experience from government, think tanks, and the private sector roles, Leila has led high-profile international initiatives spanning security, defence, trade, and governance portfolios.
Kirsten Bayes is a staff member at Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) where she works as its Outreach Coordinator: she is a regular speaker for CAAT. She has been involved with CAAT as a volunteer and staff member for more than 15 years. She is also the Chair of Nuclear Information Service, a non profit that investigates and reports on the UK’s nuclear weapons programme.
Jack Cinamon is researcher and parliamentary liaison for Shadow World Investigations and co-research coordinator for the Corruption Tracker. He is co-author of the forthcoming book, Making a Killing: How the West Profits From Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen.