“Eighty years ago today, Clement Attlee led Labour to a landslide victory with a 146-seat majority in the 1945 General Election”, Kevan Nelson reminded the Communist Party Executive Committee last Saturday (5 July 2025).
As well as founding the NHS and expanding the Welfare State, the post-war Labour government engaged in “unbridled military intervention in Greece, India, Kenya, Malaya, Indonesia, Iran and Korea, while also played a leading role in the formation of NATO” he told the meeting.
Doubling Britain’s military expenditure eventually led to the introduction of NHS charges, Aneurin Bevan’s resignation as Health Minister and Labour’s defeat at the 1951 General Election.
Now we see NATO, US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jeopardising world peace by leading the drive to militarism and war, the CP International Secretary warned.
“The unprovoked US bombing of Iran on 22 June was carried out without UN Security Council authorisation or even a pretext of self-defence – it was a clear breach of international law backed by Britain’s so-called ‘Labour government’”, Mr Nelson declared.
He pointed out that following decisions taken at recent UK-EU, NATO and European Council summits, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that total North American and European military spending will more than double – from $1,500 billion in 2024 to an extraordinary $4,200 billion (£3,000 billion) by 2035.
“In both military and trade matters, the Trump regime bears the hallmarks of gangster imperialism”, Mr Nelson accused, adding that the new US-UK trade deal is more akin to “a protection payment to a mob boss” than a liberalising trade agreement between two sovereign countries.
Turning to Gaza, the CP International Secretary said short-term ceasefires on Israeli terms would not halt the genocidal policies of the “Israeli state terrorist regime” against the Palestinian people.
Britain’s Communists also condemned the Labour government’s efforts to criminalise and ban pro-Palestinian protests in Britain, notably last week’s designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation” for disrupting arms supplies to the Israeli government.
“When the British state closes ranks in support of commercial and military interests regardless of human rights, this makes the case for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and for direct action as legitimate channels of protest when legal and political routes provide no justice”, Mr Nelson insisted.
The CP Executive urged full and active support for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s 20th anniversary conference on BDS on 12 July and the next national demonstration for Palestine in Central London on 19 July.
END.
For further information or to arrange an interview contact Johnnie Hunter, Communications Director, johnniehunter@communistparty.org.uk.
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