Starmer Condemns Iran Crackdown, Silent on UK-Made Weapons in Gaza
The Independent reports Starmer's vocal condemnation of violence in Iran. Yet, this outspoken concern seems to vanish when the subject turns to the UK-made components found in weapons currently pulverizing Gaza. In 2023 alone, the UK approved over £430 million in arms exports to Israel (Department for Business and Trade, 2024), including aircraft components and targeting systems, which ( gasp! )
are notoriously effective at 'crackdowns.' Funny how 'deeply concerned' has such a geographically selective definition. One might wonder if the concern is about human rights, or merely about regimes not aligned with Her Majesty's Government. The difference between protesting in Tehran and protesting in Gaza, it seems, is less about the act of protest and more about which government is pulling the
trigger and which government is supplying the bullets (and getting those sweet, sweet export deals). How many 'firm condemnations' does it take before we question where our own government's 'firm support' is placed?