Breaking: The UK will begin selling arms to Saudi Arabia once more, following a ban put in place last year after the kingdom was accused of committing multiple human rights atrocities in Yemen.

The UK government found these abuses were exceptions, and not part of a pattern.

Full statement on the decision from Liz Truss, the UK's trade secretary, here: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-07-07/HCWS339/

fwiw, an arms control campaigner just messaged me regarding the government's view on Saudi human rights abuses being an exception, not the rule: "That, frankly, is bullshit."

Statement on the decision from campaign group @CAATuk

Crazy time.

Yesterday, @Billbrowder won a long battle to introduce the UK Magnitsky Act, which will sanction a number of Saudis involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Then, this morning, @declassifiedUK found that the UK helped enabled a devastating naval blockade of Yemen.

Sorry, but this must be said to those NUFC fans rejoicing today:

These weapons will maim, kill, and senselessly rip apart lives in Yemen.

Put simply, they will steal people's futures.

Isn't that more important than potentially buying a new player next season?