Fury over Glasgow arms conference

Leading Scottish healthcare professionals have signed an open letter attacking Glasgow City Council for backing an arms conference this week.

The Undersea Defence Technology event, hosted at the Scottish Exhibition Centre from yesterday until Thursday, will bring together leading military professionals and undersea experts to promote “cutting-edge technologies and developments”.

The event is sponsored by some of the world’s leading arms manufacturers including Babcock, the firm which runs the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, and BAE Systems, also involved in the Trident renewal programme.

Thirty one GPS, professors and other healthcare workers puttheirnamestoalettercomposed by public health charity Medact, which referred to the “humanitarian consequences of the arms trade”.

The letter said: “Among customers will be the government of Saudi Arabia who are accused of committing war crimes against the civilian population of Yemen, which have included deadly attacks against medical facilities and have been implicated in a devastating public health crisis.” Council leader Susan Aitken and Deputy leader David Mcdonald said: “The council is not responsible for the conference or contracts between conference organisers, the venue and accommodation providers.”