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Why has Trump encircled Venezuela?

In Labour CND’s latest podcast, Francisco Dominguez talks to Carol Turner about Trump’s military encirclement of Venezuela, and the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the Latin America-Caribbean nuclear free zone agreement of 1967 promoted by Mexico in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Our podcasts are available Spotify, YouTube, and FB.
Give us a listen, and if you like what you hear, give us a follow and please tell you friends.
Back episodes include:

    • Andrew Murray on the TUC 2025 agenda
    • Sam Mason on the military bootprint astride the climate crisis
    • Alex Gordon on the defence jobs myth, and
    • Defence Economist Ron Smith on military spending and the Chancellor’s spring statement.
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Andrew Murray on the TUC agenda

In Labour CND’s latest podcast, Andrew Murray discusses the wages not weapons and Gaza motions on the Congres agenda, as well as the lack of action on defence diversification and the state of the TUC.

Labour CND podcasts are published on Spotify, YouTube and FB. Give us a listen, give us a like, give us a follow – and please tell you friends about Labour CND’s new venture into podcasting!

If this is the first time you’ve come across Labour CND podcasts, Alex Gordon on the defence jobs myth, and Samantha Mason on the military bootprint astride the climate crisis are also worth a listen. And what Defence Economist Ron Smith had to say about military spending at the time of the Chancellor’s spring statement is just as relevant as the autumn budget approaches.

Watch it on on Labour CND’s YouTube channel here

What it on Labour CND YouTube channel here

Watch it here

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Labour CND’s getting a make-over

Labour CND launched our first podcast, an interview with defence economist Prof Ron Smith on the day of Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s spring statement to parliament. Take a listen, you’ll find Ron has some surprising things to say about the economy, jobs, and Trident.

Introducing podcasts is just part of an overhaul of our all our digital comms. Take a look at our eye-catching social media posts like the ones above, you’ll find us @LabourCND. Watch out for a new improved and regular newsletter next month too; and come back to our re-vamped website which will be up and running in the next couple of months – with more news, views, and analysis from a range of guest contributors .

We’re now on Spotify too. You can also pick our podcasts there if you prefer.. If you do, please remember do give us a like and a follow to help spread the word.

On that point, a big thanks from Labour CND go to Bryn Griffiths, who coordinates Labour Left Podcast, for his support for our new venture. As Bryn put it, we’re the new kids on the podcast block. We’re hoping to get on board with more partner organisations who are podcasting in future.  

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In conversation with defence economist Prof Ron Smith on military spending, jobs, and Trident

Labour CND recently launched into a new venture for us: podcasting. Our first was released the day after the Chancellor’s spring statement: a conversation with Ron Smith that produced some interesting responses.

We asked Ron if a bigger MoD budget would benefit the British economy, and if more military spending meant more jobs. His responses were revealing. But when we asked about Trident, the answer was franker than any you might expect from an economist:

‘Trident, I feel, is a complete waste of money
– and when I say that to military audiences
two thirds of them applaud’

Ron is Emeritus Professor of Applied Economics at Birkbeck, University of London, where he’s researched on the economics of arms trading and defence policy for many years and published a long list of articles and books. He’s advised the Treasury and been a consultant to the National Audit Office, so we reckon he knows a thing or two.

Our conversation with Ron is well worth a half-hour listen. If you do, and if you like what Labour CND’s doing – please give us a like, give us a follow, and come back for more.