What should socialists say and do about spending on war?
Nick Wrack will introduce a Zoom discussion on Monday 13 July 2026, at 7.30pm. The link is here.
We are daily bombarded by the cheerleaders of the profit system – the main party politicians and the military top brass – that the world is now a more dangerous place, and that more money – much more money – must be spent on ‘defence’.
Of course, when they say ‘defence’ they mean ‘war’.
They want to spend more on ‘war’. Much more. And they mean to make us pay for it.
Our answer must be, echoing the words of the German socialists Karl Liebknecht and his father Wilhelm, ‘Not one penny, not one man or woman for the bosses’ wars!’
‘Not one penny for the system that causes wars, that is the profit system, the exploitative capitalist system.’
Keir Starmer, perhaps not without an eye on the top NATO job, has just announced a departing gift to the war drive, that the UK will spend an extra £15 billion on war preparations over the next four years to 2030.
Andy Burnham, confirming that he is fundamentally no different from Starmer, has agreed to that.
And it will only get worse. Much worse.
The UK currently has a target of spending 3.5% of GDP on its military capacity, as part of its commitment to NATO, by 2035. It currently spends 2.4% and will reach 2.7% by 2030.
This is unacceptable to the warmongers, despite it meaning an extra £300 billion over the next four years. To reach 3.5% would require a further increase of £25 billion per year.
We all know where this money will come from. It will come at the expense of the neediest in society. The material fabric of society will be left to decay.
There is always money for war, but never enough to provide for the needs of society.
It’s not enough to demand that less is spent on weapons.
We must wage a different war, a war on poverty, inequality, deprivation and degradation, on inadequate housing, public buildings, health provision and sanitation.
We must wage a war on the class society that produces wars.
Join the discussion.