In 2020, Keir Starmer took a firm stance against the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia due to concerns over their use in the Yemen civil war. In a tweet, he supported Jo Stevens, stating: "It’s why we should stop the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, as we said in our manifesto. I want us to go further and review all arms sales, as well as halting the sales to Saudi Arabia that are creating the horrifying humanitarian suffering in Yemen."

This clear and decisive statement positioned Starmer as an advocate for human rights and a critic of the UK's arms trade policies. The commitment to halting arms sales to Saudi Arabia was also part of Labour's manifesto, appealing to those concerned with the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

However, on a recent appearance on the Laura Kuenssberg program, Starmer's stance appeared less definitive. When questioned about the issue, he reiterated his commitment to reviewing all arms sales but stopped short of confirming whether this would include a halt in sales to Saudi Arabia. He stated, “We will review the situation and the review will give us the answers to those questions,” refusing to give a clear "yes" or "no" answer.

This shift in tone raises questions about Starmer's consistency and the Labour Party's position on this critical issue. The contrast between his 2020 statement and his recent comments highlights a potential softening of his stance on Saudi arms sales.

SOURCES

1st Video: Keir Starmer X - https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1232345522754682880

2nd Video: Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg | 14th January 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGijw3wY4Ss&t

3. Starmer weakens pledges on military action votes and Saudi arms sales - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/yemen-commons-jeremy-corbyn-rishi-sunak-conservative-b2478375.html

4. Keir Starmer 10 Pledges - https://www.clpd.org.uk/resource/keir-starmer-10-pledges/