Cameron 'silently taking Britain into Yemen war,' says MP
Prime Minister brushes off claim, but admits UK offers training and advice to Saudi troops

David Cameron was yesterday accused of "silently" taking Britain into Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, as new figures revealed UK arms sales to the Gulf kingdom have increased by almost 11,000 per cent since the conflict started.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Angus Robertson, the Scottish National Party's leader at Westminster, said Cameron should admit to Britain's involvement in the conflict.
"Brushing aside the question," the PM did admit that the UK military was offering training and advice, The Independent says, and promised "to make sure that the norms of humanitarian law" were obeyed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Just to be absolutely clear about our role, British military personnel are not directly involved in the Saudi-led coalition's operations, personnel are not involved in carrying out strikes and we're not involved in the Saudi targeting decision-making process," the Prime Minister said.
Earlier this month, Sky News alleged that six military experts were working with Saudi Arabia's military operation in Yemen to help select rebel sites to attack. The claim was backed by the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, who, speaking to the Daily Telegraph this week, said British advisers are "working alongside" Saudi personnel who are targeting bombing sites.
This week, Russian newspaper Pravda claimed Britain and Saudi Arabia were "standing shoulder to shoulder in atrocity".
According to human rights groups, the UK sold more than $1bn (£705m) of arms to Saudi Arabia in a three-month period last year – which coincided with a surge in air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen that have killed 5,884 people since March.
In December, legal analysis commissioned by Amnesty International and Saferworld suggested the British government was in breach of domestic, EU and international law by continuing to supply arms to Saudi Arabia after it was found be to deliberately targeting civilians.
"The UK is selling billions of pounds worth of weapons to the Saudis in the full knowledge of the grave risk that they'll be used to kill Yemeni civilians," said the report.
Cameron has repeatedly rejected calls to suspend UK arms licences in the face of "overwhelming evidence" of civilian targeting by the Saudi Arabian air force, arguing that Britain has the most robust export controls on weapons in the world.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is Starmer's £33m plan to smash 'vile' Channel migration gangs?
Today's Big Question PM lays out plan to tackle migration gangs like international terrorism, with cooperation across countries and enhanced police powers
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Quirky hot cross buns to try this Easter
The Week Recommends Creative, flavourful twists on the classic Easter bake, from tiramisu and stem ginger to a cheesy sharing-size treat
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why is the US bombing Yemen in the first place?
In the Spotlight The Trump administration's snowballing "Signalgate" scandal has helped refocus public attention onto one of the nation's least-understood military entanglements
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published