SGR response to the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) critiques the UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review for excluding nuclear weapons and maintaining an oversized military budget. SGR advocates for a 25% reduction in military spending, the cancellation of the Trident replacement system, and the retirement of various offensive conventional weapons. The organization argues that funds should be redirected toward tackling the roots of insecurity, such as poverty and unsustainable natural resource consumption, to improve energy security and mitigate climate change.

• The UK's military spending is disproportionately high compared to other nations; it ranks fourth globally in absolute spending and is twice as large per capita as Russia and over 12 times larger than China.
• SGR argues that the UK should reduce its military budget by at least 25% in the short term to align with the average spending of European NATO members.
• The document contends that the Trident nuclear weapons system is incapable of deterring realistic future threats like terrorism or social strife and should be abandoned, including the cancellation of its replacement system estimated to cost £70-100 billion.
• SGR recommends deep cuts to offensive conventional military technologies, specifically calling for the cancellation of the second aircraft carrier, the retirement of Vanguard, Trafalgar, and Swiftsure-class submarines, and reductions in the Tornado and Typhoon aircraft fleets.
• The UK's arms export policies are criticized for fueling insecurity, citing a £700 million Hawk aircraft deal with India as a factor that could increase tensions with Pakistan.
• SGR suggests that the Ministry of Defence's R&D budget, which is approximately £2.2 billion (28% of all public R&D spending), should be cut before other civilian R&D areas, particularly by reducing funding to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
• The document argues that transitioning to a low carbon economy and sustainable consumption of natural resources is essential for UK energy security and for reducing climate change, which is identified as a driver of insecurity.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (2010). SGR response to the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/uk-strategic-defence-and-security-review-sgr-response

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. SGR response to the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review. 2010. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/uk-strategic-defence-and-security-review-sgr-response.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=SGR response to the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review |date=3 September 2010 |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/uk-strategic-defence-and-security-review-sgr-response |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{scientistsforglobalresponsibility2010sgr, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{SGR response to the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review}}, publisher = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, year = {2010}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/uk-strategic-defence-and-security-review-sgr-response}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }