It was reported yesterday that the Liberal Democrats have called for a tighter arms control regime that would ban sales to countries listed as a concern by the Foreign Office due to their human rights record.

The Guardian reports:

At present, the UK sells arms to 24 out of the 27 countries of concern identified in the FCO’s annual human rights report (pdf), including North Korea, Yemen and Russia…

The Lib Dems tightened the already strict criteria while in government, delivering on a manifesto commitment to secure the first international arms trade treaty, limiting the sale of weapons to dangerous regimes. More than 150 licences granted by the Labour government were revoked as an immediate reaction to the Arab spring.

The Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron, said:

“Human rights should not be pushed aside in a headlong rush to profit. We currently sell weapons to a series of regimes that have terrible human rights records. I do not want British weapons or equipment being used to commit human rights abuses.

“We do have a strong regime of safeguards, some of the strongest in the world, but they can be strengthened.

“I am calling for the government to stop hiding behind civil servants and take responsibility for arms sales. If they feel the sales are appropriate, they should sign off the deals themselves. It is time for accountability in the arms trade.”

The Lib Dems also want tougher controls on the re-exporting of arms by introducing end-user certificates for all arms sales. These controls enable the exporter to retain a say in the eventual destination of the goods.