Election debate: Caroline Lucas asks Amber Rudd 'How can you sleep at night?' due to Saudi Arabia arms sales
The Green leader clashed with the Home Secretary in the live TV election debate
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Green leader Caroline Lucas has told Amber Rudd she does not know how she sleeps at night knowing the level of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The scathing attack was made after Ms Lucas demanded to know why the UK has now become the world’s second biggest arms dealer.
Ms Rudd claimed having a strong arms industry was necessary in order to defend the country.
The clash came as the live BBC election debate discussed terrorism and UK foreign policy.
Ms Lucas said the UK must “stop adding” to the world’s problems and singled out arms sales to Saudi, which has led a brutal bombing campaign in neighbouring Yemen.
Addressing Ms Rudd directly, she went on: “My question is this really, why is Britain the second biggest arms dealer in the world?
“Why are we selling to 22 of the 30 countries on our the Government’s own human rights watch list?
“Why do we make ten times more in arms sales to Saudi Arabia than we gave to Yemen in aid? I genuinely wonder how you sleep at night knowing those figures.”
The Prime Minister has talked a lot about boosting trade after Brexit, but campaigners have raised concerns that her desire to secure any new trade has led to a drop in ethical standards.
The Government has recently approved £3.5bn worth of arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia and a stream of British ministers have visited the kingdom to solicit trade despite its ongoing involvement in the bombing campaign in Yemen.
Ms Rudd responded: “I will make no apology for being a government that wants to defend this country.
“We will make sure that the defence budget is well funded. We make sure we will do that with a strong economy.
“We will make sure we can do that by having a strong industry.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments