Drawing on primary sources from both sides of the Atlantic, Britain and
the Bomb explores how economic, political, and strategic considerations
have shaped British nuclear diplomacy. The book concentrates on Prime
Minister Harold Wilson's first two terms of office, 1964-1970, which
represent a critical period in international nuclear history. Wilson's
commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and his support for continued
investment in the British nuclear weapons program, despite serious
economic and political challenges, established precedents that still
influence policymakers today. The continued independence of Britain's
nuclear force, and the enduring absence of a German or European
deterrent, certainly owes a debt to Wilson's handling of nuclear
diplomacy more than four decades ago. Beyond highlighting the importance
of this period, the book explains how and why British nuclear diplomacy
evolved during Wilson's leadership. Cabinet discussions, financial
crises, and international tensions encouraged a degree of flexibility in
the pursuit of strategic independence and the creation of a
non-proliferation treaty. Gill shows us that British nuclear diplomacy
was a series of compromises, an intricate blend of political, economic,
and strategic considerations.