These two primer papers on the UK’s civil and military nuclear history launch the new Policy Exchange Nuclear Enterprise Commission. The Commission’s work will study how the Government should combine and amplify its civil and military nuclear programmes drawing on expertise from renowned international military officials, policymakers, academics, engineers and more. Backed by former UK Cabinet Secretary Rt Hon Simon Case CVO, the Commission’s publications and events will revitalise the conversation which has stalled, re-engaging with nuclear as a source of security and prosperity.

The primer on the UK’s military nuclear history argues that given the weaknesses in Europe’s ability to expand its conventional deterrence, the only answer is enhanced nuclear capability either through independent or joint development programmes. Despite of the cost, Britain has always found a way to prioritise its security through the deterrent and must continue to do so. A strong and independent deterrent is crucial to the European security architecture, particularly at a time of Russian hostility and American uncertainty.

In a foreword to the report, Admiral Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC writes:

‘“The costs of expanding our nuclear deterrent may currently seem insurmountable. But it is worth remembering that the 1940s race to develop a nuclear weapon incurred enormous costs too. We did that then because the alternative was unconscionable: to be exposed to nuclear coercion and attack by our adversaries. If history were to repeat itself, we would have little choice but to make the same decision.”

The launch of the Commission received coverage by:

• POLITICO’s London Playbook
• Forces News

Policy Exchange Nuclear Enterprise Commission

As the UK enters a decisive decade for its energy and economic future, the Policy Exchange Nuclear Enterprise Commission will continue to set out the bold, practical reforms required to rebuild a world-class nuclear enterprise, cut through the inertia of the past two decades, and deliver the nuclear renaissance Britain urgently needs.

The Commission will produce a series of discussion papers and research notes addressing the most pressing questions facing the UK’s nuclear enterprise. Drawing together expertise from across government, industry and academia, its research and events will span subjects from the nuclear deterrent and the nuclear threat landscape to regulation, the nuclear industrial base and dual-use technologies. This breadth will enable the Commission to propose in a final publication a wide array of answers to the considerable challenges at the heart of energy and national security policy.

It should be noted that all research papers produced under the banner of the Policy Exchange Nuclear Enterprise Commission are intended for discussion and do not necessarily represent the views of every member of the Commission, or the Commission as a whole.

Members of the Commission

• Rt Hon Lord Case CVO PC, former Cabinet Secretary (Chair)
• Dr Won-Pil Baek, Senior Research Fellow at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
• Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies at KCL and Professor of Non-Proliferation and International Security
• Joshua Buckland, Director of Strategy and Policy at EDF and a Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange
• Tom Greatrex, CEO, Nuclear Industry Association; former Shadow Minister for Energy of Great Britain
• Lt Gen H R McMaster (USA, Ret.), 25th U.S. National Security Advisor
• Frank Miller, former Special Advisor on nuclear matters to President George W. Bush and Nuclear Defence Specialist at the Department of Defence
• Professor Dame Fiona Murray DCMG CBE, Associate Dean for Innovation at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the NATO Innovation Fund
• Professor Sir David Omand GCB, former Director of GCHQ 
• Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG PC, former NATO Secretary General and Secretary of State for Defence
• Hon William J Schneider Jr, former Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs
• Air Marshal Edward Stringer CB CBE, former Director-General of the Defence Academy and former Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff 
• Paul Taylor CBE, former Director General of Strategic Technologies at the Ministry of Defence
• Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former Minister of State for Indo-Pacific and Secretary of State for International Trade
• Dr Heather Williams, Director, Project on Nuclear Issues at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
• Admiral Rt Hon Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC, former First Sea Lord