How the MOD Covered Up Missing Radiation Data and Rewrote History For decades, Nuclear Test Veterans have fought for justice, seeking recognition for the illnesses they suffered after being stationed at Christmas Island (Kiritimati) during the UK’s atmospheric nuclear testing programme in 1957 and 1958. For years, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) relied on a single, "definitive" document to deny veterans' claims: The 1993 Clare Report (SDTN 16/93). This report claimed to prove t

For decades, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has looked nuclear test veterans and their families in the eye and told them: “We aren’t hiding anything. There is no evidence your illnesses were caused by the tests, and we have been entirely transparent.” But behind closed doors, a massive, multi-agency records exercise coordinated by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) has been underway. The resulting reports—compiled by the single-Service historical branches and AWE Nuclear S

Sixty Years. Eight Years. Still Waiting for Nuclear Justice. This July, two anniversaries fall within a day of each other, and together they tell a single, unbroken story of what nuclear colonialism looks like, and what it costs. On 1 July 2026, it will be 80 years since the United States detonated its first post-war nuclear weapon above Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, displacing 167 Bikinian people from their ancestral home with a promise of return that has never been

Last night, Al Carns (ex Minister for Veterans' and People and ex Armed Forces Minister) appeared on BBC Newsnight. Al and John Healey instigated the records review into the missing medical records and the orders for blood and urine tests, which were hidden away on the Merlin database under national security. The MOD and Ministers have consistently lied about the existence of these blood tests for decades; these have been officially recorded in Hansard and are of public recor

With Sir Keir Starmer resigning as Prime Minister, a new cabinet will soon be in office, with Andy Burnham as the frontrunner to succeed him. What does this mean for the Nuclear Community? Will it be positive, or will Andy join the long list of Prime Ministers who did not tackle the longest-running scandal in British history? We have been waiting and negotiating with Number 10, The Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA), The Defence Secretary and The Minister for Veterans' and Pe

Within the Merlin archive, we rarely see documents relating to the French testing program. Yet one in May 1973 was released, declassified on the 24th December 2025. The document is from F Morgan, the Procurement Executive at the Ministry of Defence, to Bill Saxby. It details the sensitive aspects of operations from Lima and states that Mr Saxby may not wish to frighten the FCO with the document as a whole. The document references Operation 'Baby'. The UK sampled the French te

I was brought up to respect my elders and trust authority. This was even drummed into me during my two years of RNR training on HMS Conway. Unfortunately, over the years, I have become a bit of a skeptic and cynic. This was brought home to me since my initiation into being a Nuclear Veteran during Grapple Y at Christmas Island when the UK Government decided to test the largest H-Bomb ever. Wave Ruler I was on an RFA vessel at the time (Wave Ruler) manned entirely by civilians

For many years, campaigners have always questioned the various NRPB studies, the data, the methodology and most importantly, the independence of the study. New documents released this week from the Merlin database have raised these questions again. Firstly, let's look at who is chairing the meetings on this 'Independent Study' Dr C J Morgan was employed by the Ministry of Defence and chaired all of the New Test Participants (TPS) Meetings for the second NRPB Study, according

Over the past few days, we have been receiving a lot of enquiries about Andy Burnham. If he becomes the new Prime Minister, how will this affect our campaign? Can he be the man who will finally end the 74-year Nuclear test Veteran scandal? Susie Boniface, Andy Burnham and Alan Owen at the Labour Party Conference 2025 Firstly, he has to win the by-election in Makerfield. He has now been confirmed as the candidate for the election, and he will be standing. Then, if he wins, he

LABRATS representatives attended the 2026 NCCF Conference at the Hilton Hotel, East Midlands Airport. An annual conference, it brought together the organisations that are working on behalf of the nuclear community, including the Nuclear Community Charity Fund, BNTVA Museum and LABRATS. Throughout the day, there were tea and coffee breaks, lunch and a Gala dinner. Wesley Perriman displayed material from the museum and displayed hundreds of photographs for the attendees to look

New documents released as part of the Merlin database expose the AWE's knowledge and the restriction of information to protect their narrative. In this blog, we concentrate on a letter sent from the AWE to Dr C J Morgan at the Ministry of Defence. It is dated 4th August 1992. The letter is in response to a Rainout Report HRP/RAIN/92/P1 and contains 8 paragraphs. So the rain could be contaminated, and the MOD are aware of this fact, yet they have always denied it. Science know

Leading Seaman WB Plewright (second from right) and crewmates from HMAS Fremantle in Fremantle, Western Australia, 1956 (WA News) William Bryan (Bill) Plewright was born on 28 November 1929 in Bunbury, Western Australia. Bill worked as a brickie’s labourer before joining the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1947. He served in Occupied Japan with HMAS Bataan from 1948 to 1949 as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). He and his fellow sailors visited Hiroshima

I have seen thousands of documents relating to the nuclear testing programs across the world. I have seen thousands of incredible pictures and listened to thousands of veterans' testimonies and stories. Yet when I received a copy of a document from the Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandhers-Jones, a few weeks ago, I was blown away by its contents. For years, Doug Hern had told me that the fish contained the key to increased radiation levels; he had caught the fish,

Today has been a positive day for the Nuclear Community. An extremely busy day of meetings culminated with the Adjournment debate in Parliament. The day started with a letter from the Prime Minister regarding our correspondence last week. A firm commitment from him to our cause. We are working with number 10 to schedule a meeting with the Prime Minister so that it is at the optimum time. He needs to be briefed on the records review and the answers to the many questions raised

Seventy years of the same story, until this week - From the desk of Tom Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest. With thanks and deep respect to investigative journalist Susie Boniface. On Tuesday a restricted document landed in my hands that helps explain one of the grimmest habits of the modern British state: its ability to turn human misery into a technical footnote and then sit on it for decades. The report is called the Christmas Island Nuclear Tests Radiation Survey Report.

In this time of increasing nuclear threats and fast moving conflicts led by nuclear armed states, it is more important than ever to work on nuclear justice issues which centre community members and affected communities. In light of this, we are happy to share that we held our first meeting of the Reclaim Community Fellowship on 18/19 February! Six activists from regions impacted by nuclear weapons testing, the Marshall Islands, Qazaqstan / Kazakhstan and Māòhi Nui came togeth

INTRODUCTION Avro Vulcan XH558 “The Spirit of Great Britain” is undoubtedly the most famous V Bomber. It first flew in 1960 and was the last remaining Vulcan to fly, with its final flight being on the 28th October 2015 at Doncaster Airport (previously RAF Finningley) where it remains today under the custodianship of “The Vulcan to the Sky Trust”, a charity committed to its preservation. On the “Vulcan to the Sky” website, currently there is scant detail on XH558’s role from

Alan Owen and Jeff Edwards OBE DL On Tuesday 3rd of March 2026, we were privileged to speak at the Candour and Communities event with Jeff Edwards OBE DL, a survivor of the Aberfan disaster and Professor Helen Stalford of the Centre for People's Justice. The event was held at the Orbit Business Centre in Merthyr Tydfil, which is approximately 5 miles from Aberfan. The event was very emotional. Jeff's speech, recalling his time as an 8-year-old in the Aberfan disaster, was ver

Peace Movement Aotearoa Remembering the tragedy of nuclear weapons "testing" in the Pacific and reflecting on some of the ongoing issues for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific ... Sunday, 1 March is Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day - commemorated as Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day in the Marshall Islands - the 72nd anniversary of the 'Bravo' nuclear bomb detonation by the United States close to the surface of Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall Islands, which blaste

As we move into March 2026, we wanted to share updates on the Campaign for Truth and Justice. A lot of work has already been undertaken with government officials and the police. Thames Valley Police - Misconduct in Public Office We wrote to the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police regarding the investigation into the Misconduct in Public Office. We received this response: Obviously, they are extremely busy investigating the Misconduct in Public Office complaints for Lord M