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Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 12 October 2026

Debate

Saudi Arabia: Houthi Attacks

Contribution

My Lords, at the end of July, the self-described US War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, claimed that the US efforts last March in the attacks on the Houthis had removed the Houthis’ ability to disrupt navigation. That clearly is not the case. Indeed, the strategic missteps of the United States in the region have created greater concerns, including for UK national interests. It is in the UK’s national security interests that Yemen is not a breeding ground for further Houthi terrorism. That is why, under the previous Administration, the UK signed a partnership development with the recognised authorities in Yemen. In coming to office, the Labour Government have cut the funding for that development programme from £134 million to £86 million. Why is that development cut not against our national security interests?

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