For immediate release:

MSP FORMALLY SUPPORTS UN NUCLEAR BAN TREATY

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has formally supported the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by signing the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons’ (ICAN) parliamentary pledge.

ICAN are an international civil society group set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo next month for their international nuclear disarmament advocacy.

Their pledge commits parliamentarians worldwide to “work for the signature and ratification of this landmark treaty by our respective countries”. When visiting the Scottish Parliament, ICAN secured the support of all MSPs from the SNP and the Scottish Greens, along with three Labour MSPs.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“I was honoured to sign this important pledge of support for the ban treaty. This change in International Law will usher in a necessary shift in bringing human rights to the forefront of the nuclear disarmament debate.

“Nuclear weapons not only kill hundreds of thousands of civilians but they leave a lasting detrimental effect on communities – many of whom saw the devastation first hand.

“I urge the UK Government to sign the UN ban treaty so they can stand with the majority of states in the world who have already taken this step.”

A spokesperson for ICAN said:

“The endorsement and commitment to the TPNW by a majority of Scottish parliamentarians stands in marked contrast to the position of the UK Government.

“During the March Treaty negotiations, the UK UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the First Committee at the United Nations that the UK had a clear mandate to renew its Trident nuclear weapons system. That appears to be arguable.

“The decision by so many Scottish parliamentarians to align themselves with a treaty aimed at the complete elimination of weapons at least critically undermines that mandate.”

ENDS

Notes:

Please find below a photograph of Clare Haughey MSP signing the ICAN parliamentary pledge.

Further information regarding ICAN’s awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize can be found here: https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2017/

Published: 29th November 2017