This report, published by Campaign Against Arms Trade and World Peace Foundation, details the ways in which the arms industry influences government policy, and how it has gained such a close relationship with government over the years that the lines between the two have been virtually erased. The consequences of this include a broken MOD procurement system, that nonetheless ensures steady profits for the UK’s top arms companies, and a lax arms export control regime that has allowed the industry to continue fuelling atrocities in Yemen and Palestine, while evading accountability for severe corruption.
The key channels of influence identified by the report include :
- The revolving door between the government and the arms industry, which sees over 40% of top-ranked military officers and civilian MOD personnel taking roles in the arms and security industry upon leaving public service, including a clear majority of those working in procurement positions, most closely connected to the industry;
- An unparalleled level of access for the arms industry to the top levels of government. This includes joint government-industry advisory bodies, a dedicated arms export promotion agency in the Department for Business and Trade, and a constant stream of high-level meetings between arms company heads and government ministers and senior officials. Between 2012-23, BAE Systems had more meetings with ministers, and more with Prime Ministers, than any other private company.
Download the Executive Summary
Download the full report
