Scottish CND

30/10/2026

Campaigners, scientists and academics shed light on GPEW's recent nuclear power folly.

With build schedules running in the decades, its clear that renewables + storage is the faster and more efficient path in the energy transition.

Nuclear power plants are also increasingly hostage to extreme weather, climate intermittency and military threats.

Read the full letter: https://ow.ly/Z8rk51022Fk



-nuclear

29/10/2026

Three UK nuclear-armed subs at sea - but WHY? And what signal does it send?

Evidence collected by campaigners suggested that 3 Vanguard submarines were at sea well before it was reported by the press.

But while the media has suggested this is due to improved 'operational availability' of the submarines, there are other likely explanations for this unusual event...

Despite the rarity of 3 Vanguard nuclear-armed submarines being simultaneously at sea, there is likely a simple explanation: 1 of the 3 boats been on patrol for 198 days and is due to return to Faslane imminently, and another of the 3 submarines will take over the patrol.

That leaves only 1 submarine 'unaccounted' for - what could it be up to?

One possibility is participation in either the US 'Global Thunder' nuclear war exercise or France's 'Rummy' exercise. The MoD has not confirmed or denied UK submarine participation in these exercises.

Another possibility is one submarine visiting the US for maintenance or testing of the Trident missiles used by the Royal Navy, which are stored at King's Bay naval base in Georgia, USA.

As CND have maintained for decades and the former UK Prime Minister declared earlier this year, the UK depends on a good relationship with the US to maintain its nuclear-armed status. This is because Trident is a US missile, leased to the Royal Navy with the assent of Washington.

A final option (touted by the pro-military press) is that the Vanguard fleet suddenly has improved 'operational availability.' But if this is true, why are standard submarine patrols STILL running to the length of 200 days on average, double the intended length of patrol?

Why was this improved 'operational availability' not employed weeks ago to relieve submariners currently 198 days on patrol, instead sending out 2 extra submarines at once, like the famous buses arriving late?

Nevertheless, signals are indeed sent with abnormal submarine deployments like this, which risk heightened tensions and misinterpretations between nuclear-armed states with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The only way to prevent nuclear war is disarmament, and all nuclear posturing threatens humanity as a whole.

28/10/2026

Excellent piece looking into the quiet Solar power revolution:

"Solar is now the engine of the power transition," says Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy and climate policy at the University of Oxford in the UK.

Solar has become the fastest-growing source of new electricity in history, and by far the largest source of new electricity globally. In 2025, it met three-quarters of the growth in the world's demand for electricity, overtaking wind power generation (wind power is also growing, just a little more slowly)...
..Solar power, of course, can only be produced during the day when the sun is shining. To turn it into electricity that can be dispatched at any time, it needs to be paired with batteries.

Fortunately, batteries have been having their own cost revolution, transforming their ability to support the solar rollout. "Solar plus storage is now routinely cheaper than new fossil plants in sunny regions," says Rosenow. "Batteries have largely solved the daily problem of shifting midday sun into the evening."

After defying projections, solar's dramatic growth means it is overtaking nuclear as a global power source. Here are seven reasons for solar's success, and where it might go from here.

28/10/2026

Read more analysis (that the MoD won't provide) on possible reasons why 3 Trident nuclear submarines are currently at sea from The Ferret.

"Campaigners are concerned that the deployments could “send the wrong signal” to Russia, and escalate “nuclear tensions”. The consequences of a misunderstanding could be “grave”, they warn...

"Peter Burt from Nukewatch UK warned that putting three nuclear-armed submarines to sea was irresponsible. "No doubt the UK thinks that it is sending out signals of strength and resolve over its nuclear posture, but these signals may be interpreted in a totally different way by the Russian government,” he said.

“They may conclude that they need to raise their own nuclear forces to a higher state of alert, particularly at a time when other Nato states are conducting nuclear exercises...

"Dave Cullen, a UK nuclear weapons expert from the Basic nuclear think tank in London, questioned why the MoD hadn’t taken advantage of having three seaworthy Vanguard submarines to reduce the length of patrols. “Why has the MoD decided to prioritise some other activity instead?”, he asked...

"The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament pointed out that three nuclear-armed submarines could “wreak global catastrophe almost beyond comprehension”. Any “nuclear posturing” threatened humanity, said the campaign’s Samuel Rafanell-Williams..."

Observations by campaigners suggest that three of the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines are currently at sea. This is the first time this has happened since 2022, and it’s caused concerns.

26/10/2026

Reminder of Scottish CND's webinar on nuclear testing, taking place this Wednesday at 7pm.

Still time to register for free and save your spot: https://tinyurl.com/d4k7mtcc

We host Dave Cullen, Policy Fellow and Programme Manager at BASIC, who will discuss the geopolitical legacy of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, reasons for its relative success over 30 years and why its norms may be under threat.

SCND Chair Lynn Jamieson will provide a campaigning perspective on what anti-nuclear campaigners can learn from the test-ban movement.

26/10/2026

CND and Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstrators braving the elements outside the Menwyth Hill US spy base over the weekend.

This North Yorkshire base plays a key role in organising intelligence used in US military operations in the Middle-East and Africa.

Its called an 'RAF' base, but the US military have unaccountable free reign to pursue wars using this as well as numerous other RAF facilities.

Give Trump's bases the boot!

18/10/2026

Scottish CND is hosting an open session during our Annual General Meeting on the morning of Saturday 14th November.

We invite three experienced campaigners to discuss the status of nuclear weapons across Europe, including French "Eurobomb" plans and northern country's plans to adopt nuclear sharing.

Register free today: https://ow.ly/vg8f50ZXynV

17/10/2026

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996) opening for signature.

Due to key states not ratifying the treaty, it has not yet legally come into force. However the norms it established against nuclear testing have been effective in preventing nuclear explosions by nuclear-armed states.

It remains one of the most successful arms control agreements to date, but its norms are under pressure due to the recent US accusation that China conducted an underground nuclear test, and statements from the US President that the US would resume testing on an equal basis with other countries.

Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association explains: https://ow.ly/qVRj50ZXxSF

16/10/2026

THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN: Sustaining Success (free webinar, 28th October from 7pm).

Scottish CND's annual webinar on nuclear testing will focus on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty - the reasons for its success, its current precarity in light of recent international tensions, and what anti-nuclear campaigners can learn from the treaty and its history.

We'll be joined by expert guests who will detail the importance of the test ban and why its norms must be sustained.

Register free here: https://ow.ly/XKZJ50ZXy1k

15/10/2026

"The UK’s military is too focused on global commitments at the expense of domestic defence, meaning the government’s planned increase in defence spending is likely to result in even greater waste, a thinktank report has warned.

According to an analysis by researchers at the Transition Security Project, Britain has the most overseas-oriented military among European nations, with almost a quarter of the defence budget spent on commitments across five continents.

Calling this a symptom of a “destructive, outdated foreign policy” centred on overseas missions that have often made the world less safe, the report says ministers should prioritise changing their approach rather than immediately increasing spending, with resources shifted from overseas commitments to domestic defence."

Exclusive: Thinktank says Britain’s drive towards global commitments is symptom of ‘outdated foreign policy’