Roy Jenkins and guests explore how attitudes to nuclear weapons have changed since the end of the Cold War. It’s more than thirty years since the prospect of nuclear conflict cast a shadow over world peace; prompting massive demonstrations and feeding fierce debate. When the Cold War ended we all moved on, and largely forgot the cloud which had once loomed so threateningly. Until the first week of the Ukraine invasion, when Vladimir Putin openly placed his strategic nuclear weapons forces on high alert and assumptions about peace in Europe were rocked.

The panel discuss whether nuclear weapons make the world a safer place, whether a deterrent actually deters, and with committed Christians on both sides of the debate, how do they square their different positions with their faith?

Joining the panel is Ruth Harvey, Leader of the Iona Community, an intentional Christian community working for justice and peace. She has a background in church ministry and as a mediator with Place for Hope, a charity working in mediation with faith-based organisations. Major General Tim Cross is a retired army officer. He served in the first Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been an adviser to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. Jane Harries is Peace Education Coordinator at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. She’s a Quaker and a key figure in Cymdeithas y Cymod, the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Martyn Gough is National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion. He was previously Archdeacon for the Royal Navy and Chaplain of the Fleet.