Labour to block sale of British weapons to repressive regimes

The British opposition Labour Party plans to take measures aimed at blocking the sale of British-built weapons and military technology to repressive regimes, including Saudi Arabia, an official says.

“Every Labour government would wish to uphold the strongest licensing criteria to ensure that any UK exports could not be used for repression or human rights abuse,” Barry Gardiner, the shadow International Trade Secretary, told The Independent.

File photo of Barry Gardiner

His remarks come as the government of Prime Minister Theresa May has recently licensed £3.5 billion worth of arms export to the Saudi kingdom.

Also, a stream of British ministers have traveled to the country to solicit trade in spite of its military aggression against Yemen for more than two years, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 12,000 people.

The UK is the world’s second biggest arms exporter, according to government figures.

A report published by The Guardian

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