Anti-slavery Projects: Commonwealth

Lord Roberts of Llandudno Excerpts
Thursday 4th March 2021

(3 years, 1 month ago)

Grand Committee
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Lord Roberts of Llandudno Portrait Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD) [V]
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Nothing causes more slavery in its consequences than war. One thing we can do is to try to reduce the armaments sold to nations that will then go on to slaughter one another. We know, for instance, that in Yemen we now have 8.4 million people on the brink of slavery and starvation. We see that the UK has now decided to cut its aid budget to Yemen from £164 million to £87 million, while at the same time selling about £638 million-worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, the other country in this dispute. Is there not something we can do to stop ourselves from this trade? Is there not a William Wilberforce now in the Cabinet?