On 28 February 2023, Leicester City Council passed a motion supporting the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The motion, proposed by Councillor O’Donnell and seconded by Councillor Shelton, stated that:-

1)    Leicester City Council declares its support for the United Nations Treaty on The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), an historic treaty, which once being ratified, will completely prohibit the developing, testing and using of nuclear weapons.

2)    Leicester City Council recognises the necessity of creating a nuclear weapons-free world and as such deeply regrets the United Kingdom government’s refusal to sign or ratify this landmark treaty.

3)    In adopting this resolution, the council therefore unequivocally declares its support for the TPNW. Furthermore, Council calls on the United Kingdom government to work for global denuclearisation by:

• Signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, thereby joining the global majority of countries opposed to nuclear weapons.
• Cancelling the replacement of Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system.
• Utilising all diplomatic avenues possible to work towards a nuclear–free world.

As we previously reported on this website, the British Government has said it will not sign TPNW as it believes the best policy is “gradual multilateral disarmament, negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks”. In its statement, Leicester City Council said it “deeply regrets” the UK’s stance.