All parties must listen to public opinion and end arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The UK has licensed more than £3.3 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since it began bombing Yemen in March 2015. Yet oolling shows that almost two thirds of UK adults oppose arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with only 11% supporting them.

A recent poll by Opinium (published 05 February) found that:

-71% of UK adults oppose arms exports to countries that have been accused of violating international humanitarian law, with only 5% supporting them.
-71% of UK adults oppose arms exports to countries with poor human rights records, with only 6% supporting them.
- 62% of UK adults oppose arms exports to Saudi Arabia, with only 11% supporting them.

The draft Labour Party manifesto, which was leaked to the national media last night, includes a commitment to end arms exports to Saudi Arabia. Over recent months the front benches of the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cyrmu and SNP have also opposed arms sales to the regime.

For decades now Saudi Arabia has been by far the largest buyer of UK arms. Saudi forces are using UK licensed fighter jets, bombs and missiles in its ongoing bombardment of Yemen.

Since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed:

£2.2 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
£1.1 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
£430,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)

Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: “The UK public is rightly opposed to the UK’s unbending and uncritical political and military support for the Saudi regime. It has one of the most brutal and repressive human rights records in the world. UK arms have been central to its terrible bombardment of Yemen.”

The legality of UK arms sales is currently the subject of a Judicial Review, following an application by Campaign Against Arms Trade. The claim calls on the government to suspend all extant licences and stop issuing further arms export licences to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen while it holds a full review into if the exports are compatible with UK and EU legislation. The verdict is still pending.

Andrew continued: “Arms sales and the UK’s long history of support for human rights abusers have not been election issues in the past – primarily because the main parties have pledged to maintain them.

"This time there is a growing opposition from across the political spectrum, with the draft Labour manifesto being the first to commit to ending them – we hope to see the same from commitment from other parties in the days ahead."

If politicians want to do what is in the interest of people in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, they must commit to ending the arms sales and the unequivocal political support that has gone with it.”

On many occasions Pope Francis has spoken out against the arms trade. In September 2015, in his historic address to the US Congress, the Holy Father said: “Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.

“In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade,” he concluded.

Read more about Campoaign Against the Arms Trade here: www.caat.org.uk