Just 30 out of 650 MPs ‘could be bothered’ to attend emergency debate on Yemen war
The Commons has come under fire after only a small number of MPs showed up at a debate on the “world’s biggest humanitarian crisis” in Yemen. Campaigners spoke out against the embarrassingly low turnout at the emergency debate.
The debate on Yemen had been called by Tory MP Andrew Mitchell, the former International Development Secretary last Thursday.
He aimed to discuss Britain’s responsibility in the Yemen war given the UK’s ongoing arms to Saudi Arabia, which is allegedly using the military equipment as part of its bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels. This proved to be something which was only of interest to 30 out of 650 MPs.
Did your MP take part in UK #Parliament's emergency #Yemen debate? Here's my list of MPs who bothered to turn up & speak up. Note:-Some further MPs were present who did not speak-Not all contributions were useful/objective but most agreed on need to end blockade fast & fully pic.twitter.com/HmlSM6Rl5M
— Elisabeth Kendall (@Dr_E_Kendall) December 3, 2017
Lindsey German, a representative of Stop the War National Convener, told RT there should have been a “real cry” against the “barbarism” of the Yemen conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 and displaced three million, according to UN figures from the beginning of 2017.
“What is happening in Yemen is nothing short of barbarism, with millions suffering from the effects of the war and blockade. There is the danger of famine and cholera.
“Our government here in Britain is complicit in the Saudi bombing of Yemen, which is causing most of the civilian casualties. We sell arms to Saudi, regard it as a very close political ally, and have British military personnel advising on the bombing.”
Accusing MPs of “not being bothered”, she added: “Those of us who oppose this war need to push the issue up the political agenda and demand that our government breaks all links with the Saudis.”
Shadow Home Secretary Emily Thornberry also criticized the poor attendance and said in her speech: “It is regrettable in many ways that the House is not packed today. On too many occasions the war in Yemen has been described as a forgotten war, and indeed it is.”
The near no-show of MPs also caused a wave of criticism on Twitter:
One Twitter user pointed out how the low turnout fails to make up for Britain’s “culpability” in the Yemen war:
Only 30 MPs showed up to the debate on Parliament on the tragedy in Yemen, a tragedy in which the UK is culpable through its support for Saudi Arabia.https://t.co/aaaPn3qyGx
— Trevor Sloughter (@thelogicman) December 2, 2017
Another said the turnout is emblematic of British politics:
Only 30 mps showed up to a parliament debate about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen! All you need to know about (British) politics
— Sofia (@faintreality) December 2, 2017
One mockingly suggested that there were more people commenting on a Yemen debate post on Twitter than MPs present:
Number of people who discussed this Tweet larger than the actual number of MPs who attended the debate #Yemen.Shame on UK MPs https://t.co/nNquGwUsC7
— Hussam Al-Sanabani (@HussamSanabani) January 13, 2017
Another called on the Commons to stop serving its own interests only:
Have a debate on the conflict in Yemen and less then 20 MPs will attend even though the UK is complicit in the starvation of an entire nation, but hold a debate on pay rises for MPs and parliament will be full. MPs must stop serving their own interests and start serving ours https://t.co/W9SA5iG4Du
— jordan (@jrdnrzk) December 1, 2017
Some were happy to leave it to Karma:
the 620 British MPs who didnt show up to discuss the horror inflicted on Millions of poor #Yemen with DAILY BOMBINGS & thousands of children starving due to #UnitedKingdom US naval, land and air evil FOOD BLOCKADEWhat will you and your family do when #Karma knocks on your door. https://t.co/N8ep3WkHkf
— Nardeep Pujji (@AWAKEALERT) December 3, 2017
Responding to calls for a clampdown on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said there are UK officials in the field making sure the weapons are being used appropriately.
He said: “We have a rigorous legal and parliamentary process, and ensuring that international humanitarian law is not breached is clearly a vital part of that.
“The information supplied by those liaison officers is crucial to ensuring that our international obligations are observed. That is why they are there,” he said, the Independent reported.
