MEMBERS of Stop the War Scotland have resolved to build and broaden the movement against war and resist the march to militarism at the group’s annual meeting in Glasgow.

Dozens packed into the city’s Renfield Centre on Saturday to hear comrades’ experiences over the last year, including the work of trades councils to secure a motion against the government’s increase in military spending in the face of concerns from unions organising in the sector.

Discussion focused on making the link between public-sector cuts and rocketing military budgets, with a motion passed in support of the Sisters Against Cuts campaign established to save a service at Glasgow’s Murray’s Initiative — formerly Glasgow Council on Alcohol — that supports women experiencing gender-based violence from closing.

That link between the cuts being meted out to essential services while arms spending soared was hammered home by president of teaching union EIS — a Stop the War Scotland affiliate — Mark Smith.

He told the meeting: “Independent modelling said it could cost £160 million per annum to allow universal free school meals across primary, secondary and pre-school.

“That’s only 0.67 per cent of the increase in defence spending. 

“It would be a preventative spend because it would create long-term savings for the public health service, reduce diet-related illnesses, cut household costs at a time when the cost of living is increasing.

“Some families are deciding whether to eat or turn on the heating; do we need and can we justify this additional spending being put into bombs, weapons, wars?”

Fraternal Stop the War Coalition delegate Andrew Murray made clear: “Over the last 25 years, on every single issue the Stop the War Coalition has fought on — Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Syria — we have been right and the people running this country have been wrong, and we should say that loud and clear.”

Turning to the race to rearm, he continued: “The penny is dropping that this cannot be afforded without huge cuts in welfare, education, health, local government — in everything that gives a veneer of civilisation to our society.”

He added: “These weapons are being put in the hands of the ruling class that this century alone has laid waste to Afghanistan, to Iraq, has bombed Libya and armed Israel.

“You cannot justify working-class organisations voting to put more weapons in the hands of the people who have led those wars,” he said.