UK Arms Sales and the Church of England

Abstract

This chapter explores the attitude of the British government to contemporary arms sales. It investigates how the UK approaches the issue and how it determines to whom to sell arms and what types of equipment to transfer. The chapter assess the influence the Church of England exerts in the field of British arms policy. When representatives of the Church of England have criticised British arms sales decisions, government ministers have tended to respond that the clergy bear no responsibility for employment opportunities in manufacturing industries or the national balance of payments. The Church of England has sought to exercise influence over the issue of arms sales policy through a statement it issued on the subject of ethics and armaments. The UK maintains that its own arms sales policy is responsible. It sells arms only to legitimate state authorities and it refuses to sell arms to countries under an international embargo.