UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen

Early day motion 771, tabled 18 January 2023 by Kim Johnson (Labour). Signed by 73 members.

That this House notes with concern the ongoing devastation of the war on Yemen, which has repeatedly been named one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world since the Saudi-led Coalition first launched airstrikes in March 2015; further notes that the Government continues to allow arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and continues to provide logistical support to Saudi forces in Yemen despite overwhelming evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian law; reminds the Government that criteria 2(c) of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria precludes licensing where there is a clear risk that items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law; notes with concern the failure of the warring parties to renew the first truce in six years, brokered by the UN, which was sustained for six months in 2022; calls on the Government to end all support for the war and suspend all arms sales to Saudi Arabia; and urges the Government to use all diplomatic means at its disposal, including the UK’s position as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council to support the role of the Yemeni people, including women and children, in building sustainable peace, to advocate for an end to the mahram male guardian requirement across governorates under Houthi control, and call for the creation of an independent, international accountability mechanism that would investigate, publicly report and pursue accountability for the most serious violations of international law committed in Yemen by all parties to the conflict.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 33, Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 10, Independent 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Alba 1, DUP 1, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.