Composite G (covering Motions 16 & 17)
Military Spending
“That this Congress notes the decision of the 2025 Trades Union Congress to:
- oppose British government policy, dating from 2022, for immediate increases in defence spending;
- prioritise campaigning for public investment in Britain’s public realm, decimated by austerity;
- commit to a safe, liveable planet; and
- reaffirm that our movement’s priority is welfare and wages, not weapons and war.
“Congress also notes that the British Government currently plans to increase defence spending from £64 billion for this present financial year to £87 billion by 2030 with Scotland’s ‘share’ being approximately an additional £2.3billion.
“In this context, Congress notes the statement by Scotland’s Auditor General on 29 October 2025 that by 2029-30, Scotland’s unbudgeted deficit will reach £4.7 billion – with additional impact on ‘non-protected’ areas such as education, transport, and local government, and capital spend on infrastructure.
“Congress therefore supports the decision of the 2025 TUC for an urgent return to 2022 levels of defence expenditure as essential for Scotland’s ability to address the additional socially and economically damaging cuts now identified by the Auditor General.
“Congress also calls on the General Council to work with the TUC to oppose British Government policy to increase defence spending and to instead prioritise campaigning for public investment in Britain’s public services.”
Mover: Glasgow Trades Union Council
Supporter: Aberdeen Trades Union Council
RSS