The UK Government’s proposal to allow an increase of up to 40% in the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile has been described as ‘deeply worrying’ by eight Scottish church leaders.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, was among the signatories to a statement responding to the UK Government’s integrated review of foreign and defence policies in March.

They described the proposal to remove the cap on nuclear weapons held by the UK as ‘a retrograde step which threatens the common good and reverses nearly 30 years of gradual disarmament’ and ‘a contravention of the UK’s obligations under the UN Non-Proliferation Treaty’.

The statement, also signed by representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church of Scotland, Quakers, United Reformed Church, Methodist Church and Salvation Army, continued: “For many years, Scottish churches have agreed that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is immoral and their very possession should be condemned in a world that needs peace.

“The financial cost of a larger nuclear arsenal cannot be justified in the face of the UK’s high rates of poverty and deprivation, and the challenges of the climate emergency and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The UK must take its responsibilities and Treaty obligations seriously, strive for global nuclear disarmament, and work towards peaceful and cooperative international relationships.”