Taxpayer forks out £600k in fight to keep selling arms to Saudi Arabia amid fears they’re being used on civilians

A HIGH COURT battle over Britain’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia has left taxpayers with a £600,000 bill, Trade Secretary Liam Fox has revealed.

Campaigners lost the high profile case after judges ruled that ministers had not acted unlawfully in refusing to block export licences for the arms and military equipment.

It came amid allegations that the weapons are being used against civilians in Saudi Arabia's neighbour, Yemen.

Tory veteran Liam Fox said the court case had proved Britain had one of the most robust processes in the world for analysing arms sales.

And he told the Commons: “It is my job to be anxious about these things as lives are potentially being lost if we make the wrong judgements.”

Quizzed by Tory backbencher Anne Marie Trevelyan over the cost, Mr Fox said: “I hesitate a little because there may well be an appeal and we may not yet be at the end of the legal process.

“But to date the case has cost UK taxpayers somewhat in excess of £600,000.”