https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/miliband-all-talk-israeli-sanctions-campaigners-say
Mourners gather around the flag-draped remains of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes after they were recovered from the rubble, during their funeral in Gaza City, October 1, 2026CAMPAIGNERS have accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government of being “hot on talk but cold on action” when it comes to weapons sales to Israel.
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) spoke out today after it emerged that the “double lock” on arms sales to Israel announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on September 8 had no impact whatsoever.
In response to a parliamentary question, the government confirmed that the first lock, a review of arms sales to ensure compliance with UK and international law, introduced in September 2024 had led to 29 licences being suspended and 56 licences being refused.
The same answer, however, reveals the new second lock, which aims to weed out exports used in illegal activities such as Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, has seen no further licences suspended since it was introduced last month, despite Mr Miliband’s claims at the Labour conference his government had reset its approach.
CAAT spokesman Leo Verity said: “Government recognition of ethnic cleansing, Israeli settler-terrorism and of the illegality of the occupation is the first step to ending UK complicity.
“But for the brutalised Palestinian people, all that matters is action, on arms sales and beyond.
“Right now it seems that the Burnham government is hot on talk but cold on action, with the ‘double lock’ on arms to Israel looking more like ‘doubling down’.”
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