Almost Half of Britain's Weapons Exports Go to Saudi Arabia - Report

Almost half of the UK's entire recent weapons exports have gone to Saudi Arabia. That's according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Most Britons Believe Selling Arms to Saudis Is ‘Unacceptable’

THE OBSERVER: The government is keen to promote arms exports in a post-Brexit world

Almost two-thirds of British people think selling arms to Saudi Arabia – the UK’s largest defence customer – is unacceptable.

The finding comes ahead of this week’s high court case, which has the potential to derail arms sales to the kingdom – and could have major consequences for defence exports to other countries too.

The case, on Tuesday, comes at a time when Theresa May’s government is keen to promote UK arms exports. In a post-Brexit world, ministers believe the arms industry could be a major beneficiary when the UK establishes new trade deals. Last month, May agreed a £100m deal to help equip the Turkish military with fighter jets.

But an Opinium poll conducted for the Campaign Against the Arms Trade suggests the government’s enthusiasm for selling weapons to regimes with questionable human rights records is firmly out of step with public opinion. » | Jamie Doward | Sunday, February 5, 2017

The Story of UK Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia - BBC Newsnight

The use of British arms in Saudi attacks on Yemen continues to be one of the most controversial issues of the moment. Newsnight tells the story of Yemen, Saudi arms and Crispin Blunt MP.

Crispin Blunt on UK Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia - BBC Newsnight

Gabriel Gatehouse interviews Crispin Blunt MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, about continued UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia