Defending the UK and Allies Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Defending the UK and Allies

Valerie Vaz Excerpts
Monday 15th January 2024

(11 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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I thank hon. Friend for his support of our action. He will know that the Foreign Office and Ministers are regularly engaged with our partners in Africa. What we want to do is bring prosperity and security to the region, and we will continue to dialogue with everyone to ensure that that happens.

Valerie Vaz Portrait Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
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Having been born in Aden, I am obviously saddened that the democratic and humanitarian crisis in Yemen over the last nine years has not provoked such an active response against the Houthis. Who advised the Prime Minister not to come to Parliament? How will he ensure that the peace agreement in Yemen is actively and vigorously monitored and pursued?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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As I said, we support the Saudi-Houthi negotiations and the deal announced in December by the UN special envoy on Yemen. I urge the Houthis to stop jeopardising the best chance of peace in Yemen in years and engage constructively, so that we can expand the benefits that the truce has brought to the Yemeni people. Of course, we need to see progress from them on that. Once that is done, hopefully all of us can look forward to a brighter future for the Yemeni people.