Sunderland residents are set to descend upon London for the Stop Trident national demonstration, as the Government is planning on spending £120bn on renewing its nuclear defence system.
Mark Tyers, 31, a NHS health care assistant from Sunderland and organiser of the coach to London, said: “Trident is massively dangerous, we’re only a few bad decisions, or miscommunications away from a warhead going off.
“The Government is spending a huge amount of money on nuclear weapons, this would surely be better spent on meeting Britain’s health, education and sustainability needs. This money could quite easily fund the existing junior doctors’ contract.”
Over 9000 people have registered with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Tyers added: “Our health and education system are being starved of funds, and we desperately need big government investment in sustainable energy production, thermal insulation of buildings and hundreds of thousands of council houses.
“We need this if we are to stand a chance of stopping catastrophic climate change, whilst also tackling the issues faced by the large-and-growing number of people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
The concept of Trident is to deter a nuclear attack on the UK.
Four submarines carry up to eight missiles each and carry a “sealed letter of last resort” from the Prime Minister, in case the UK has been devastated by a nuclear strike.
Conservative leader, and Prime Minister, David Cameron maintains the UK needs to keep its nuclear weapons as an insurance policy against attacks.
Tony Dowling, 58, teacher and Chair of the North East People’s Assembly said: “In an age of austerity it makes little sense to be spending so much on a weapon of mass destruction which is not under control of the UK.”
Sunderland People’s Assembly, which aims to bring together all those fighting austerity in Sunderland, unanimously agreed to support the major national demonstration called by the CND to Stop Trident on Saturday, February 27.
The Government have failed to comment on the march.
If you would like to know more about the demonstration, the coach leaves Holmeside bus stop at 5:45am and tickets can be bought for £20-£30 from sunderlandpeoplesassembly@outlook.com.