Britain must not be complicit in another catastrophic war

The decision by the United States to join Israel’s escalating war on Iran is a reckless, illegal, and deeply dangerous development. It risks dragging the world into a wider regional conflict with catastrophic consequences, including the threat of nuclear confrontation.

Conscience: Taxes for Peace Not War unequivocally condemns this escalation and urges the British government to refuse any military, logistical, or political support for these acts of aggression.

Once again, war is being presented as inevitable, and military might as a solution. But history tells us otherwise. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya, British participation in US-led interventions has only led to devastation, instability, and the loss of countless lives. Today, we face the same crossroads, and we must choose peace.

Despite claims that these strikes are intended to prevent nuclear proliferation, there is no credible evidence that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. What’s more, Iran was engaged in diplomatic negotiations, including talks with European representatives, when it was attacked. This war is not about defence. It is about domination, waged by nuclear-armed states who demand submission from others while refusing to abide by international law themselves.

The UK government has so far refused to publish the legal advice it received on potential military involvement. Reports suggest that the Attorney General has warned such action would be unlawful. And yet, discussions have taken place at the highest levels of government about supporting or participating in this war, including using the US base on Diego Garcia, a British territory obtained through colonial displacement and still subject to international legal challenge.

We are deeply alarmed by this. The British public has a right to know whether their taxes are being used to support another illegal war. In a democracy, there can be no accountability without transparency.

We call on the Prime Minister and all MPs to:

• Reject any military involvement or support for the US-Israeli campaign against Iran

• Prohibit the use of UK territory, airspace, or resources for this war, including Diego Garcia

• Publicly release the legal advice concerning the war’s legality under international law

• Commit to a renewed diplomatic effort to de-escalate the situation and push for an immediate ceasefire in both Iran and Gaza

Conscience also urges all who are appalled by this violence to take a stand against the militarism that enables it. Our government spends over £53.9 billion a year on the military, while those who believe in peace are denied the right to withhold taxes that fund war. This is not just about foreign policy, it is about who we are as a society.

We must resist being drawn into yet another cycle of war, suffering, and revenge. The only sustainable solution is dialogue, diplomacy, and justice - not bombs, not occupation, not the silencing of dissent.

We stand with all who refuse to be complicit. We stand for peace.