Stop the War Coalition AGM 2025: Resolutions

1) National Officers resolution on general political situation

Conference notes:

• The world faces conflicts and rising tension in many parts of the globe. While each war has its own causes, at the root of global instability is imperialism in general, and the growing incapacity of the US to maintain its worldwide hegemony in particular.
• This is a driver of both the continuing war in Ukraine and the widening conflict in the Middle East. It is expressed both in the addiction of centrist liberalism to wars of intervention and the aggressive American nationalism of Trump, both imperialist. Both trends unite in support for Israeli aggression and for US hegemony generally and differ mainly on tactics.
• British policy in areas of tension remains entirely subordinated to the US. The advent of the Trump administration will put fresh pressure on this relationship but there is no sign of a shift in the attitude of Keir Starmer and David Lammy.
• Stop the War maintains a focus on challenging the foreign policy of the British state, and on opposing the conflicts this embroils Britain in. Thus, we oppose British support for Israel, Britain’s attacks on Yemen, and its work to stoke up the war in Ukraine.
• We also campaign against the huge increases in military spending now being canvassed, the enlargement of NATO, and British engagement in anti-Chinese warmongering in the Pacific, like the AUKUS pact.
• We reaffirm our foundational commitment to defending civil liberties, including the right to protest and demonstrate, and to opposing racism resulting from international conflict, above all Islamophobia. These have become more important than ever in 2024. We will work with allies in campaigning on these issues going forward.

Conference resolves that Stop the War will prioritise the following issues in 2025:

• Solidarity with the Palestinian people including an end to the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
• Opposition to a wider war in the Middle East, and to British support for Israel and direct military interventions against Yemen, Iran and elsewhere.
• A ceasefire in Ukraine, followed by peace negotiations without preconditions. A halt to British involvement in the conflict, and no further expansion of NATO.
• Opposition to a new nuclear arms race and to Britain’s own nuclear arsenal.
• Resistance to any increase in military spending and any cuts in public services to fundmilitarisation.
• Opposing any escalation of tension against China and North Korea, and any deployment of British forces there.
• Establishing a foreign policy independent of Washington.
• Defending the right to demonstrate.
• Challenging Islamophobia and other forms of racism.

2) National Officers resolution on building Stop the War 

Conference notes:

• Stop the War has played a crucial role in the Palestine campaign, helping to organise and mobilise for the national and local demonstrations and popularising arguments that have help sustained the movement. We have made the links to wider war including the Ukraine war, the threat to Iran, and increases in arms spending.
• We have played a particularly important role in mobilising in the trade unions and promoting the Palestine workplace days of action up and down the country.
• Over the last year, we have increased our membership by more than 20% and strengthened our organisation but there are still significant areas without specifically anti-war organisation.

Conference believes:

• Whatever the detail of his policies, Trump’s threats to Greenland, Panama, Canada and the Palestinians confirm that he represents an assertive nationalism that will increase the level of tension in an already volatile world, amongst other things by ramping up arms spending in the US and beyond.
• Stop the War is the organisation best placed to mount opposition to the dangerous spread of war and to provide much needed analysis of imperialism.
• Stop the War needs to redouble our efforts to build the most effective anti-war movement possible as a matter of urgency. This means continuing to strengthen and broaden the Palestine movement, linking this issue with the wider push to war and continuing to campaign for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and against intervention against Iran, China and other potential targets.

Conference resolves to:

• Set up new branches wherever possible and to increase the level of organisation and frequency of public meetings in existing groups.
• Strengthen anti-war arguments and organisation and in the trade union movement and to widen participation in the workplace days of action by holding trade union organisation meetings in each area.
• Place a renewed emphasis on building Stop the War in colleges and universities.
• Put campaigning against an increase in arms spending at the heart of our work.
• Hold steering committee meetings once a month instead of every three months to involve more people and help co-ordinate our work.

3) National Officers resolution on UK military spending

Conference notes:

• This AGM condemns Defence Secretary, John Healey’s statement to parliament on 6 January 2025 that the UK has allotted additional military spending in 2025/2026 of £3 billion for AUKUS nuclear submarines and the UK nuclear strike force and is committed by spring 2025 to set further increases in military spending to reach 2.5% of GDP.
• Healey boasted to MPs, “The UK has for many years been one of the highest spenders on defence in NATO. We continue to hold that proud record. Increasing spending this year will mean that Britain continues to be one of the highest spenders in NATO.”1
• We note that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said fiscal rules laid out in her Budget are “non- negotiable”. Her new spending review is predicted to commit government departments to cuts amounting to 5% of their budgets.
• The political choice to cut spending on education, housing, health, social care, local government and other public services while massively boosting public expenditure on research, procurement, production and sale of weapons of war is a direct attack on public welfare to benefit the bottom line of mainly US and UK arms manufacturers.

Conference resolves to:

• Resist increases in military spending put forward in 2025 in the government’s ‘Strategic Defence Review’.
• Demand a ‘Peace Dividend Now’ by working with anti-poverty and anti-austerity campaigners for the £3 billion of additional nuclear military spending announced for 2025/2026 to be restored to fund essential social needs.
• Call to scrap AUKUS, which extends nuclear proliferation in the Asia Pacific and work with peace campaigners in Australasia, Asia and America to expose and oppose AUKUS.
• Continue to call for Britain to leave NATO, which is an expansionist, imperialist alliance and to prioritise public spending on welfare, not warfare.

1 John Healey, UK Parliament, Oral Answers to Questions, Hansard, Monday 6 January 2025 https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-01-06/debates/8F4AC191-D37B- 4739-BCF0- 5774AE2B0BAB/OralAnswersToQuestions#contribution-4252735A-C3F1- 4D17-9B0B-0DE832239682

4) Emergency resolution: Defend the right to protest

Conference notes:

• The arrest of around 77 people including our vice-chair and chief steward Chris Nineham on the Palestine coalition demonstration of 18th January; the charging of PSC Director Ben Jamal, and the questioning of two MPs about the demonstration.
• The routine restrictions on these and other demonstrations under the Public Order Act, which have the effect of criminalising normal protest activities.
• The increasing attempts to limit the right to protest through legislation and police action.
• The pressure from Zionist groups and some politicians to ban or severely curtail the Palestine marches.
• That one of the founding principles of Stop the War is defence of civil liberties.

Conference believes:

• That there have been increasing restrictions on protests in recent years.
• That such restrictions are a denial of our rights and freedoms to protest, which must be defended.
• That the charges against central organisers of the mass Palestine protests are an attempt to criminalise a movement which has shown such powerful solidarity for 16 months.
• That the best defence of civil liberties is to keep mobilising and organising in the face of such attacks.

Conference resolves to:

• Defend those organisers arrested and charged, including through protests at court where appropriate.
• Oppose the criminalisation of protest.
• Support all those unjustly arrested on 18th.
• Put pressure on the government to repeal these draconian laws and restore the right to open and peaceful protest.
• Hold STW meetings with partners and other public figures around the country to defend the right to protest.
•  Organise a demonstration outside Chris Nineham’s hearing on 13th February.

5) Lewisham StW resolution on NATO expansion

Conference notes:

• NATO expansion has made eastern Europe more dangerous than ever before. The UK government is recklessly providing missiles and other weapons which will prolong the war in Ukraine, killing many more Ukrainians and Russians without affecting the final outcome. The UK has given £12.8billion to Ukraine and has committed to £3billion per year that would be better spent on education, health and winter fuel allowance.
• The more that the conflict is prolonged, the greater the risk of an all-out war between nuclear powers.
• The main role of the Stop the War Coalition is to lobby the UK government.

Conference resolves to focus on lobbying the UK government to do everything possible to:

• Promote the negotiation of a ceasefire in Ukraine and the maintenance of any ceasefire that has been agreed.
• Stop all provision of arms to regions of conflict, including Ukraine.
• Use its influence in NATO to stop any further expansion.
• Refrain from imposing conditions on the progress or outcome of peace negotiations.

6) Islington StW resolution on suspending export licenses and calling on UK to comply with international law

Conference notes:

• Islington Stop the War group notes that Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide obliges the United Kingdom, as a party to the Convention, to prevent (and not assist) in acts of genocide, which are crimes under international law.
• It further notes that on 26 January 2024, the International Court of Justice issued provisional measures requiring the State of Israel to suspend its miliary operation in Gaza and to comply with its obligations under the Convention.
• The State of Israel’s air force has 39 F-35 fighter planes, which it has used in its miliary actions in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East. 15% of the component parts of F-35s are made in the United Kingdom.
• In September 2024, the UK Foreign Secretary suspended export licences for the direct supply of parts for F-35s to the State of Israel. But he asserted that to suspend all licences for the F- 35 programme would undermine the global F-35 supply chain that was vital for the security of the UK, its allies and NATO.
• However, since the statement by the Foreign Secretary, there have been 100 shipments of F- 35 parts from RAF Marham to the US. All spare parts, that are not yet installed in an aircraft, belong to the US Department of Defence under a Global agreement. Therefore, once spare parts made in the UK arrive in the US, they are available for use by the State of Israel if they need spare parts for their F-35 fighters.
• Since October 2023, RAF Shadow R1 ISTAR aircraft have also been conducting almost daily intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights over Gaza from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The British government has told MPs that these flights are merely for the purposes of locating the remaining Israeli hostages, but it has not disclosed whether these flights have recorded footage that contains evidence of acts of genocide or other war crimes.

Conference resolves to call on the UK Government to:

• Suspend export licences for all F-35 spare parts.
• Suspend all flights from RAF Akrotiri over Gaza unless it can provide evidence verified by relevant UN bodies that the flights are solely for the purposes of finding hostages.
• Comply with its duties under international law and provide relevant UN and international courts with any material indicating that war crimes are being committed in Gaza.

7) Greenwich StW: The importance of local campaigning 

Conference notes:

• The prominence of issues of war and peace, particularly in Ukraine, Palestine and the wider Middle East, in public discourse and the media is higher than at any point since the Iraq War in 2003.
• The current movement in support of Palestine is one of the biggest and most sustained social movements Britain has ever witnessed with thousands of new activists taking part.
• That movement is going to come under sustained attack from the Labour.
• Government, the police and other state bodies as they seek to clampdown on dissent over their continued support for the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel and seek to escalate militaristic policies.
• A recent study of Gen Alpha (born after 2010) children in London showed that the rising prospect of war was their primary worry with 66% of those surveyed expressing concern over the issue, above others such as the cost-of-living or crime.

Conference believes:

• It is of vital importance to our movement to recruit new activists and members to Stop the War.
• That only by rooting our movement in our local communities and being a consistent campaigning presence within them can we inspire new and future generations of activists to join the anti-war movement.
• That political analysis and discussion is vital to the development of the movement and Stop the War plays an important role in that.

Conference resolves to encourage local groups to do all they can to:

• Hold public meetings at least four times a year with broad-based platforms and time for discussion.
• Hold campaign stalls in town centres at least once a month.
• Approach local faith groups, trade union branches and other similar bodies to affiliate to the local group.
• Set up a regular newsletter and social media accounts to promote the activity of the local group.

8) Islamophobia resolution submitted by Shabbir Lakha, seconded by Grace Cowan

Conference notes:

• Islamophobia in Britain has increased sharply over the last 15 months with nearly 5,000 recorded anti-Muslim attacks in the year since 7 October 2023, an average of 14 a day and up 45% from the previous year.
• The demonstrations opposing the genocide in Gaza, which Muslim communities are a prominent part of, have regularly been labelled as ‘hate marches’ and ‘extremist’ by government and media.
• Referrals to Prevent increased by 14% between October-December 2023 compared to the previous year; a 72% increase for ‘Islamist’ concerns; 40% were children aged 11-15 years old.
• Tommy Robinson organised two large demonstrations in London in 2024, explicitly in opposition to the Palestine movement, and where speakers and supporters attacked Muslims and chanted Islamophobic slogans.
• In August 2024, fascists rioted around the country, attacking mosques, hotels housing refugees and Muslims on the streets.

Conference believes:

• Western foreign policy is the primary driver of Islamophobia – through the dehumanisation of Muslims in the Middle East and the demonisation and repression of Muslims dissenting against war at home, which have been exacerbated during the genocide in Gaza.
• Israel and the Zionist movement have been part of manufacturing Islamophobia to justify their treatment of Palestinians and to discredit anti-Zionists.
• Far-right organisation has been fuelled directly by state rhetoric – from extremism to so-called grooming gangs to scapegoating refugees; notably Suella Braverman mobilising fascists to confront the Palestine movement and ‘protect war memorials’ in November 2023 and complaining about ‘two-tier policing’.
• Israel’s continuing oppression of the Palestinians, further instability and potential flashpoints in the Middle East, and Trump’s presidency mean Islamophobia will continue to grow.
• Opposing western imperialism and support for Israel is therefore central to challenging Islamophobia and defeating the far right.
• Tommy Robinson and his supporters were pushed back when tens of thousands of people, most of whom have been part of the Palestine movement, joined anti- fascist counter-demonstrations.

Conference resolves to:

• Continue to build the Palestine and anti-war movements as widely as possible.
• Continue to highlight imperialism as the root cause of Islamophobia.
• Support mobilisations against fascists and the far right and highlight opposition to Israeli genocide and imperialism as a key part of that fight.
• Campaign against Prevent and police repression against Muslims.

9) Lakenheath: No to US nuclear weapons deployment submitted by Kate Hudson, seconded by Sweta Choudhury

Conference notes:

• On 16th January, Jill Hruby from the US’s National Nuclear Security Administration, revealed that: “The new B61-12 gravity bombs are fully forward deployed…”
• The bombs that Hruby is referring to are the upgraded US nuclear weapons that are being located at NATO bases across western Europe. As we have known for the past few years, nuclear facilities at Lakenheath air base are also being upgraded, with the intention of returning US nukes to Britain. US nukes were previously removed from Lakenheath following persistent protest at the base.
• This announcement suggests that these nuclear bombs are now located across the European NATO bases, possibly including Britain. It is outrageous that the news of this ‘forward deployment’ has been discovered through posts on X. As far as we are aware, there has been no announcement by government to parliament about this crucial information, and no information presented to local communities about the new security risks that they face. US nuclear weapons at Lakenheath will present a major threat, not only to communities near Lakenheath, but to Britain as a whole, by putting us on the US/NATO nuclear front line.

Conference resolves to:

• Oppose this ‘forward deployment’ of US nuclear weapons to Britain and to work with other campaigns across Europe to remove them all.

10) Cardiff StW resolution: Defending our movement and right to protest

Conference notes:

• Stop the War Coalition, founded in 2001 on principles of stopping war, opposing racism and Islamophobia, and defending civil liberties, has consistently prioritised protecting democratic freedoms.
• Activists face a surge of authoritarian measures targeting our rights to protest, assemble, and organise for Palestine. Examples include:
  • The arrest, trial, and acquittal of Marieha Hussain for a placard depicting Sunak and Braverman as coconuts.
  • Suppression of discussion of Palestinian resistance
  • Incarceration of around 20 Palestine Action activists.
  • Arrests for slogans like “From the river to the sea” or “Victory to the Intifada.”
  • Targeting of journalists such as Richard Medhurst, Sarah Wilkinson, and Asa Winstanley with arrests and house raids.
  • Charges against 20 activists in South Wales: the “Cardiff 19,” for nonviolent protests, plus terrorism charges against anti-racism campaigner Kwabena Devonish for a speech at a Palestine protest.

Conference further notes:

• For over two decades, the British state has weaponised anti-terror laws and anti-extremism policies to suppress dissent, including:
  • Conflating criticism of UK foreign policy with extremism, disproportionately targeting Muslims.
  • Expanding counter-terrorism from police and intelligence into demanding schools, universities, libraries, and other public institutions monitor ‘extremism’.
  • Undermining protest rights through laws like the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and Public Order Act 2023, granting sweeping powers to criminalise protest.
  • The “spy cops” scandal.

Conference believes:

• No activist unjustly targeted should stand alone.
• Use of terrorism laws and harsh sentences against nonviolent protests threatendemocratic rights.
• A coordinated national effort is essential to combat the criminalisation of dissent anddefend civil liberties.
• A national campaign is critical to challenge repressive policing and protect the right todissent.

Conference resolves:

• That Stop the War, within the national office’s capacity and resources, will explore ways to strengthen the coordination across the UK of campaigns in defence of our right to protest for Palestine. This might include supporting all those targeted by state repression across the UK by greater networking of activists, trade unionists, academics, lawyers, defendants, and their families to build a united campaign; organising conferences, speaker tours, lobbying campaigns, and/or a website or dedicated section on the Stop the War website to act as a hub for defence efforts nationwide. This hub could document attacks on the democratic rights of campaigners, provide resources like “Know Your Rights” guides, and guides on how to build solidarity with those facing arrest or court, and links signposting where to get legal and activist support. Crucially on our protests, online platforms, and public forums we must amplify the experiences of those facing repression ensuring attacks on democracy cannot be ignored.
  

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