UK MPs to vote on restricting arms sales to Saudi

UK MPs on the cross-party committee on arms export controls will vote later today on whether or not to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

A draft report released by the committee said the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has breached international law.

In August airstrikes hit a Yemeni Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital, the fourth attack on a MSF facility in a year. The Saudi-led coalition has hit weddings, markets and schools.

Given that some of the arms used by Saudi were supplied by the UK, human rights groups have raised serious concerns that British-made weapons have helped contribute towards the civilian death toll in Yemen.

Despite this, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has rejected claims that British arms have killed civilians and has said the UK will continue to export weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Activists are currently gathered outside Portcullis House in London to protest against the visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, who will lobby ministers ahead of the vote over concerns they will vote to restrict arms sales to Riyadh.

Al-Jubeir has said Britain’s support for the Saudi-led coalition will prevent Yemen launching terror attacks on the West.