Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Trade Secretary, commenting on Liz Truss admitting to breaches of the Court of Appeal’s judgement requiring the suspension of export licence awards for materiel that could be used in the conflict in Yemen, said:

“Yet again it appears there is one law for Conservative ministers and another for everyone else. The Tories have repeatedly claimed that we have the most robust licensing regime in the world. Now it is clear that they cannot even abide by the rulings of the Court of Appeal. The department has failed to conduct proper assessments and essential information is not being relayed between government departments.

“The people of the United Kingdom do not want to be complicit in fuelling the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the Secretary of State must immediately suspend all arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people have been killed in this war and it is staggering that the Trade Secretary thinks an apology will get her off the hook.

“Liz Truss must provide a full account of why her department failed so miserably. If she cannot control her department, obey the law and do what is morally right, she should resign.”