A unique parliamentary initiative has been formed in the UK to advocate and encourage debate and discussion on multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues in light of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
The group is comprised of 15 British parliamentarians, nearly all of whom are former Foreign and Defence Secretaries of State along with former Chiefs of Defence staff from the last 2 decades of politics.
The membership is as follows:
1. Rt Hon Michael Ancram MP (Former Shadow Foreign Secretary 2001-2005, Former Shadow Defence Secretary 2005)
2. Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP (Present Chair of the Defence Select Committee in Parliament since 2005)
3. Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP (Former Foreign Secretary 2006-07)
4. Admiral Lord Boyce (Former Chief of the Defence Staff 2001-03)
5. Rt Hon Des Browne MP (Former Defence Secretary 2006-08) (Chair of group)
6. Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP (Former Leader Liberal Democrat Party, Former Shadow Foreign Secretary 2001-06) (Secretary of the group)
7. Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP (Former Home Secretary 2004-06)
8. General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank (Former Chief of the Defence Staff 1997-2001)
9. Lord Hurd of Westwell (Former Foreign Secretary 1989 -1995)
10. Rt Hon Adam Ingram MP (Former MOD Minister of State (Armed Forces) 2001-07)
11. Lord King of Bridgwater (Former Defence Secretary 1989-92)
13. Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP (Former Defence Secretary 1992 -95, Former Foreign Secretary 1995-97)
14. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Former Defence Secretary 1997-1999, Former Secretary General of NATO 1999-2003)
15. Baroness Williams of Crosby (Adviser on Nuclear Proliferation to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Director for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (from 2002)
This group provides an opportunity to reinforce the view that multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is a critical global issue, particularly in the context of 2010 NPT Review Conference. It will provide a unique momentum to both domestic and international advocacy.
The group aims to take advantage of the opportunity that this unique group will provide to:
• Influence and support the UK government’s commitment to taking a lead on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation;
• Make a UK contribution to the development of a European network of similar parliamentary groups;
• Make an important contribution to the proposed ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the US; and
• Advocate the agreement of a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty (FMCT).
All the members of this group believe in a world free from nuclear weapons but feel that this can only be achieved incrementally. The group is agreed that the time is now right to develop a UK/European initiative which builds on the recent US work. The group also believes that in order for the multilateral nuclear disarmament agenda to be credible and achievable, the 2010 NPT Review Conference has to be a success, particularly after the perceived failure of the 2005 NPT Review Conference.
You can view Des Browne's interview on the BBC Politics Show about TLG on the BBC iPlayer
THE GROUP LAUNCHED ON THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2009
For more information contact Miss Shata Shetty
Website: TopLevelGroup.org
Tel: 0207 219 0930
Email: shettys at parliament dot uk | 
