A Hackney student is calling on Theresa May to reconsider her stance on the Global Nuclear Ban Treaty.

Madeleine Diggins, who has just started in Year 11 at Clapton Girls’ Academy, is growing increasingly concerned about the much-publicised tension between North Korea and the United States, and was devastated when Mrs May refused to join 122 nations in backing the July treaty.

Her fears were heightened further when North Korea fired a missile over Japan at the end of August.

The politically-minded student has given a speech in an English lesson on nuclear disarmament at the Laura Place school this term, while she is often encouraging her peers to sign petitions and publicising campaigning events on social media.

But Madeleine, believing that her efforts must go beyond campaigning in Hackney, decided to contact the Prime Minister via e-mail last week in an attempt to convince her to bring the UK closer to a “nuclear-free future”.

“The UK has promised it is working towards a nuclear-free future yet it continues to build the nuclear deterrent Trident and ignores opportunities to do something about it,” she said.

“As a rich and quite powerful country it’s our duty to be a front runner in this historic ban. If Britain signs this treaty it could be a leap towards the nuclear-free future Britain supports.

“As a nuclear-free borough, I’m keen for people living in Hackney to help campaign for and be aware of this treaty at this crucial time.

“Our community could have an impact on the final decision to sign or not sign the treaty and it’s key we take this opportunity and support peace.”

Despite stressing the “UK is committed to the long term goal of a world without nuclear weapons”, Mrs May objected to the July treaty on the grounds that “it will not improve the international security environment or increase trust and transparency”.

Madeleine described the by pressure group the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) as a “landmark opportunity” for young people across Hackney to lobby the government for change.

The CND campaign calling on the Prime Minister to back the treaty opens for signatures on Wednesday.

To find out more about the campaign go to cnduk.org.