No First Use Of Nuclear Weapons

EDM number 186 in 1993-94, proposed by Mike Gapes on 07/12/1993.

That this House views with alarm the failure of Russia to include a doctrine of no first use of nuclear weapons in its new military doctrine; is deeply concerned at the impact of this new stance specifically on Russian-Ukrainian and Russian-Chinese relations and generally on efforts to build up moral, political and doctrinal norms against the use of nuclear weapons; condemns the Govenment's welcome of the Russian move as shortsighted and complacent, though consistent with British refusal of rethink a policy of potential first use specifically designed to counter perceived Soviet conventional military power; agrees with Les Aspin, United States of America's Defense Secretary, writing in January 1992, that 'with the demise now of the Soviet conventional threat... we should now reconsider this policy, which may, if it remains intact, undercut our non-proliferation efforts by legitimising nuclear weapons and nuclear use'; notes that Les Aspin is also on record as saying no-first use, a nuclear test ban and a ban on fissile material production could form the basis of a powerful new United States non-proliferation strategy; observes that the United States is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of its nuclear strategy, and that there is strong Congressional support for adding no-first use to the initiatives already taken by the Clinton Administration on nuclear testing and fissile material production; contrasts this new thinking and courage to review all aspects of nuclear policy with the traditional and secretive approach to the British Government; and warns the Government that it may find itself reacting yet again to events, this time a possible United States initiative on no-first use, instead of helping to shape them.

This motion has been signed by a total of 32 MPs.