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| Corbyn says May must come clean over UK-made cluster bombs Corbyn says May must come clean over UK-made cluster bombs | |
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| Theresa May must explain why it took so long for the government to establish that British-made cluster bombs banned by an international treaty were dropped by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, Jeremy Corbyn has said. | Theresa May must explain why it took so long for the government to establish that British-made cluster bombs banned by an international treaty were dropped by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
| The Labour leader said there was “pretty strong evidence” available for months that cluster bombs sold from the UK in the 1980s had been deployed in the current conflict in Yemen, even though that was denied by both Saudi Arabia and rejected by government ministers in May. | The Labour leader said there was “pretty strong evidence” available for months that cluster bombs sold from the UK in the 1980s had been deployed in the current conflict in Yemen, even though that was denied by both Saudi Arabia and rejected by government ministers in May. |
| Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, only admitted on Monday that a limited number of British cluster bombs from the 1980s had been used after an official confirmation from Saudi Arabia. He made a statement to the House of Commons the day after the Guardian revealed the existence of a UK government analysis indicating the bombs had been used and which had been available to ministers for around a month. | Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, only admitted on Monday that a limited number of British cluster bombs from the 1980s had been used after an official confirmation from Saudi Arabia. He made a statement to the House of Commons the day after the Guardian revealed the existence of a UK government analysis indicating the bombs had been used and which had been available to ministers for around a month. |
| Speaking to the Guardian, Corbyn said May and Fallon should both explain why it took so long for the UK to establish the truth. “I raised the issue of arms supplies, as did Emily [Thornberry], and a television programme that indicated pretty strong evidence of cluster bombs was there. So why it’s taken this length of time, I think they do have some questions to answer,” he said. | Speaking to the Guardian, Corbyn said May and Fallon should both explain why it took so long for the UK to establish the truth. “I raised the issue of arms supplies, as did Emily [Thornberry], and a television programme that indicated pretty strong evidence of cluster bombs was there. So why it’s taken this length of time, I think they do have some questions to answer,” he said. |
| The use of the cluster bombs is particularly controversial because the UK is a signatory to the Ottawa convention banning their deployment or assistance with their deployment, although Saudi Arabia is not. They contain dozens of bomblets that can explode at a later date, causing indiscriminate killing and maiming of civilians. | The use of the cluster bombs is particularly controversial because the UK is a signatory to the Ottawa convention banning their deployment or assistance with their deployment, although Saudi Arabia is not. They contain dozens of bomblets that can explode at a later date, causing indiscriminate killing and maiming of civilians. |
| The Labour leader also called on the government again to reconsider current arms sales to Saudi Arabia in light of the US suspension of some planned military exports. He said: “We have to ask the question about this relationship with Saudi Arabia, their bombing of targets all over Yemen, vast numbers of people being forced into exile and the huge number of deaths there. It is a terrible situation. I have had discussions with UN officials and there has to be a political process to bring about a ceasefire as there does in Syria. | The Labour leader also called on the government again to reconsider current arms sales to Saudi Arabia in light of the US suspension of some planned military exports. He said: “We have to ask the question about this relationship with Saudi Arabia, their bombing of targets all over Yemen, vast numbers of people being forced into exile and the huge number of deaths there. It is a terrible situation. I have had discussions with UN officials and there has to be a political process to bring about a ceasefire as there does in Syria. |
| “Even the US has suspended some military supplies to Saudi Arabia. Why can’t we do the same?” | “Even the US has suspended some military supplies to Saudi Arabia. Why can’t we do the same?” |
| He went on to raise concerns about the functioning of the parliamentary watchdog on arms export controls, known as the quadripartite committee because it is made up of members of the foreign affairs, business, defence and international development committees. | He went on to raise concerns about the functioning of the parliamentary watchdog on arms export controls, known as the quadripartite committee because it is made up of members of the foreign affairs, business, defence and international development committees. |
| A suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia until there has been an international investigation into alleged war crimes was backed in September by MPs on two parliamentary committees – the business and international development groupings – as well as the chair of the arms export control committee. They said the reported use of cluster bombs “calls into question the coalition’s wider respect for the rules of war”. | A suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia until there has been an international investigation into alleged war crimes was backed in September by MPs on two parliamentary committees – the business and international development groupings – as well as the chair of the arms export control committee. They said the reported use of cluster bombs “calls into question the coalition’s wider respect for the rules of war”. |
| A third group of MPs, the foreign affairs select committee, disagreed and suggested it should be decided next year by a court that is hearing a legal challenge from the Campaign Against Arms Trade. A fourth committee, the defence select committee, declined to endorse either conclusion. | A third group of MPs, the foreign affairs select committee, disagreed and suggested it should be decided next year by a court that is hearing a legal challenge from the Campaign Against Arms Trade. A fourth committee, the defence select committee, declined to endorse either conclusion. |
| Amid an ongoing row, Corbyn called for the committee on arms export controls to be put on a proper footing as a parliamentary select committee to enable better scrutiny. | Amid an ongoing row, Corbyn called for the committee on arms export controls to be put on a proper footing as a parliamentary select committee to enable better scrutiny. |
| May declined to answer a question about when she was made aware of the use of UK cluster bombs when questioned by Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, earlier this week. “Is it true that senior ministers have known for some time that UK cluster munitions have been used in the current conflict in Yemen?” he said. “When was she told about that, and when will the UK join our European partners in starting to have a more ethical foreign policy on both Saudi Arabia and Yemen?” | May declined to answer a question about when she was made aware of the use of UK cluster bombs when questioned by Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, earlier this week. “Is it true that senior ministers have known for some time that UK cluster munitions have been used in the current conflict in Yemen?” he said. “When was she told about that, and when will the UK join our European partners in starting to have a more ethical foreign policy on both Saudi Arabia and Yemen?” |
| Downing Street has not yet replied to a request for comment. | Downing Street has not yet replied to a request for comment. |