UK & Ireland Mayors, Provosts and Leaders for Peace Meeting in Leeds

A packed meeting in Leeds Civic Hall for the UK & Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter was held on the 23rd of March. It discussed both local and global moves to encourage peace and disarmament. The Chapter meeting in Leeds was chaired by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Jane Dowson.

The first half of the meeting considered the national and international debate on nuclear weapons. Dr. Rebecca Johnson of ICAN outlined the detail of the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty and the work that was now needed to encourage countries to sign up to it. Fabian Hamilton MP, who is the Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament, argued that there needed to be a broader debate on nuclear weapons in the UK. The second half of the meeting then focused on some excellent local examples of peace education programmes that Mayors for Peace members in the UK and Ireland could support and get involved with. Mayors and councillors present also signed the ICAN pledge for a nuclear weapons free world.

The next Chapter meeting will be in the autumn in Scotland. A more detailed report focusing on the peace education programmes will be published shortly.

Report by Sean Morris, UK & Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter

Dr. Recca Johnson of ICAN	Fabian Hamilton MP