Peace Group shares concerns with Labour candidate

Simon Danczuk

Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group met with prospective Labour parliamentary candidate, Simon Danczuk.

At the meeting in Rochdale, Peace Group members stressed their strong opposition to the Trident nuclear weapons system and to depleted uranium munitions. They, also, shared concerns about the government’s proposals to build new nuclear power stations.

Peace Group members emphasised their commitment to working for a nuclear free future, to the development of sustainable energy and to a world free from war.

They, also, invited Mr Danczuk to join them at ‘The Bomb Stops Here’ demonstration at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment on Monday 24 March.

Philip Gilligan said: “We enjoyed a robust and wide ranging discussion with Simon and were interested to hear his views on matters such as community cohesion in Rochdale. It is clear that there are many issues on which we disagree, especially as regards the need for the immediate decommissioning of the Trident nuclear weapons system. However, we did, at least, find some common ground around the need to strive for worldwide nuclear disarmament.”

Mr Danczuk said: “I’d like to thank this group for inviting me into their house to debate a number of key issues affecting world peace. We had a passionate discussion and I found it very rewarding. It is especially heartening to hear of their involvement with charities like the Chernobyl Children’s Project and I applaud their good work.

“Naturally, we did not agree on everything and I would challenge their view that a Labour Government is solely responsible for the terrorist threat in this country and that Iran should be entitled to nuclear weapons as long as other countries possess them. Nevertheless, we were united on the need to encourage nuclear disarmament and I hope we can continue to have a fruitful dialogue on these issues.”