Taxes for Peace motion in parliament
Ruth Cadbury spoke to the motion on conscientious objection to military spending
On 19 July a Ten Minute Rule Bill arguing for the extension of the conscientious objection law into the tax system was read in parliament. The second reading will be 2 December.
It was introduced by Ruth Cadbury, a Quaker and the member of parliament for Brentford and Isleworth. It aims to create a legal structure that would allow people to redirect the military portion of their taxes into a fund dedicated to non-military security, conflict resolution and prevention work. Ruth said at the launch: ‘I want to pay for our national security, in fact I want to strengthen it. The Taxes for Peace Bill does this by investing in the most effective form of defence – conflict prevention… In an age where more and more people are concerned about spending their money ethically, this is an idea whose time has come.’
