- Poll of 2000 UK adults finds 62% oppose arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with only 11% supporting them
- UK arms exports to Saudi are subject to Judicial Review on 7, 8 and 10 February
- UK has licensed over £3.3 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since it began bombing Yemen in March 2015
Two days before the High Court considers the legality of UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has published new polling research that shows the level of public opposition to arms exports to the Saudi regime.
The polling, carried out by Opinium, 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.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The UK public is rightly appalled by arms exports to abusive dictatorships like the one in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi regime has a dire human rights record at home and has used UK arms to create a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.
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 continued:
For decades now, the UK has given uncritical political and military support to the Saudi Royal family. The message it sends is an endorsement of the repression taking place, and a slap in the face for those they are brutalising at home and bombing in Yemen.
Next week a judicial review which will be heard in the High Court on the 7, 8 and 10 February, following an application by Campaign Against Arms Trade. The claim calls on the Secretary of State for International Trade to suspend all extant licences and stop issuing further arms export licences to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen while he holds a full review into whether the exports are compatible with UK and EU legislation.
The case will also include a joint intervention by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Rights Watch UK, and one by Oxfam.
If you are planning to write about the legal challenge, or to attend the High Court hearings then CAAT can provide background details and briefings on the UK’s political and military relationship with Saudi Arabia.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
