Andrew

Unfortunately this is probably the most on-brand thing Tony Blair has ever done.

This is going to be a big issue down south too, the 'Gaza independents' vary quite strongly from Corbyn and Sultana on some big social justice issues. Having a party with divergent views is one thing (Labour or SNP for example) but setting one up with that baked in from the start is different.

I'm not necessarily against the powers themselves insofar as it was probably right to do it to National Action.

The problem is when these powers are blatantly abused such as right now, which is probably why no likely PM should be trusted with them.

I should of course say 'arming Putin again' as of course subsequent UK govts did in fact arm and support him...

It's also applied very selectively. I can't imagine a scenario where the UK was arming Putin and saying it wasn't for them to determine if he was a bad egg or not.

Worst people: "If Greta loves Gaza so much then why doesn't she go there? I am very smart."

*Greta joins activists in going to Gaza with aid.*

Worst people: "Why is Greta doing this? She's awful. Stop her!"

Never played it, but that's a lovely art style

Preach.

You say that, but it was designed before you posted ;-)

Not massively original, but my favourite views are probably of/around the three sisters in Glencoe on a sunny day.

I think motives with arms to Saudi vs arms to Israel are a bit different, but anyone who says Israel is not breaching international humanitarian law is simply lying.

I have no doubt similar discussions will be taking place now. The system is designed to enable sales not to 'control' them.

This section says it all really. We all suspected this was happening but useful to have it confirmed.

Criteria says if there is 'clear risk' of arms being used for serious breach of int human law a sale shouldn't happen. The evidence against Saudi was overwhelming but ignored.

The Saudi regime is one of the world's worst dictatorships, but level of military integration with UK and scale of BAE contracts means priority will always be arms company profit.

It took 4 year long campaign run by activists and funded by volunteers for govt to be forced into following own rules.

I saw illegality and complicity with war crimes. That’s why I quit the UK Foreign Office | Mark Smith Ministers and senior officials protected arms deals facilitating death and horror in Gaza and Yemen. I urge my former colleagues to resist them, says one-time Foreign Office policy adviser Mark Smith

I was part of the case that eventually suspended arms sales to Saudi. It was clear the arms control system was designed to enable sales no matter what Saudi forces did with them.

At the same time as the case was happening Ministers were pushing for more sales.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This place feels familiar. But far less racist.