North East campaigners have travelled to London to march with politicians against the renewal of Britian’s nuclear weapons system Trident.
They made the 600 mile round-trip to join Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader and Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on Saturday, February 27.
The Stop Trident march, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), was attended by tens-of-thousands of demonstrators.
Abigail Travers, from Silsworth, said: “It was just great to see such a huge turnout of people campaigning against Trident and to see party leaders speaking against it.”
Jennifer Lockwood, from Farringdon, added: “It’s shocking that the government are ignoring the long term wishes of people… We need the government to be held to account, Trident is not needed or wanted.”
The concluding rally in Trafalgar Square was addressed by Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and other political and cultural figures.
Sunderland Greenpeace campaigner, Mark Hardy attended the march.
Mr Hardy, said: “I attended the rally because I want to rid our planet of any nuclear products and protect this beautiful planet for future generations.”
Tony Dowling, a spokesperson for Newcastle Stop the War, added: “Why does the government say there is no money for jobs, health, education, social services – but there is always money for nuclear weapons and war? That was one of the questions that prompted dozens of protesters from across the region to join the tens of thousands at the Stop Trident march and rally in London on Saturday.
Jen Harrison from Bourmoor, in County Durham also attended the march in the capital.
Ms Harrison, said: “I joined the demo because even though the Government wants to leave a deadly legacy, it is our future at stake and I want to fight for and get more people to campaign against nuclear weapons.”
This year Parliament is due to decide whether to spend over £100billion on renewing Trident.
In his speech at the end of the march, Jeremy Corbyn, said: “If a nuclear war took place, there would be mass destruction on both sides of the conflict.
“We live in a world where so many things are possible. Where peace is possible in so many places. You don’t achieve peace by planning for war … and not respecting … human rights.”
The national demonstration comes as a Sunderland event put asked whether Britain needs nukes.