Arms Dealers or Stop The War dinner controversial?

[Whitehall_Bin_Men]

Jeremy Corbyn faces calls to cancel appearance at Stop the War fundraising dinner following Syria air strikes vote
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-faces-call s-to-cancel-appearance-at-stop-the-war-fundraising-dinner-following-sy ria-a6762501.html

Meanwhile...
Vince Cable one of 40 MPs on guest list for arms dealers dinner in London
The Business Secretary gave a speech at the event also featuring BBC news personality Jeremy Vine
Zachary Davies Boren @zdboren Thursday 5 February 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/vince-cable-one-of-40-mp s-on-guest-list-for-arms-dealers-dinner-in-london-10026302.html

The British government's close ties to the arms industry was illustrated this week at a London banquet hosted by the UK's defence and security companies.

There were 40 MPs on the guest list for a £250-a-head gathering at the Hilton hotel on Park Lane organised by trade organisation ADS, according to information provided by activist group Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat).

Business Secretary Vince Cable was the most high-profile attendee, and gave a speech at the event.

A spokesperson said he was there to address some of the UK's major employers, and declined to comment further.

The Independent has contacted other MPs reported to have been in attendance.

Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 host who will help to lead the organisation's general election coverage, has come under fire over his speech at the event, for which he received a five-figure fee, with Caat officially complaining that his appearance is "incompatible with the corporation's values".

The BBC stated that Vine "is a freelance presenter and so can make personal appearances without speaking on behalf of the BBC".

But Caat have also taken aim at Westminster, accusing politicians of appearing close to an industry it claims "profits from dictatorships which silence and suppress debate".

READ MORE
Jeremy Vine criticised over speech at arms dealers dinner
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-vine-under-fire-over-f ivefigure-speech-to-arms-trade-10024364.html

Andrew Smith from Caat said: "It's outrageous that the government actively supports and promotes this deadly trade.

"The fact that arms dealers were swilling champagne with over 40 MPs is a disgrace and shows the extent of the arms trade's connections and political lobbying."

Among the arms companies hosting MPs were Cobham, Raytheon, Thales, BAE Systems and MBDA.

These companies have export and business interests in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Israel, Taiwan and Bahrain.

Read Caat's full list of MPs on the event's guest list.

[TonyGosling]

Jeremy Vine Sparks Outrage With 'Five-Figure' Speech To Arms Dealers
The Huffington Post UK | By Asa Bennett
Posted: 05/02/2015 11:54 GMT Updated: 05/02/2015 11:59 GMT
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/02/05/jeremy-vine-arms-dealers-di nner_n_6620034.html

Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine has been accused of tarnishing the reputation of the BBC for speaking at a £246-per-head dinner for arms dealers.

Vine, who is going to play a leading role in the corporation's General Election coverage, is reported to have made the appearance at the ADS dinner earlier this week for a "five-figure" sum.

The controversial event, hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London, was interrupted at the start by a speech by an anti-arms trade campaigner, who dramatically tore the assembled arms dealers, urging them to "think on what you do and reconsider your jobs!"

Senior politicians joined Vine at the dinner, including business secretary Vince Cable, who sat at the top table with the BBC presenter and also gave a speech.

He last year came under fire for failing to back an arms embargo against Israel in favour of a "very weak" threat to suspend 12 export licences if violence breaks out again in the region.

The Lib Dem minister sat with Labour's Vernon Coaker, the shadow defence secretary, and the heads of the ADS, the trade body for UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries.

Vine's appearance at the dinner sparked a backlash from anti-arms trade campaigners and social media users.

Andrew Smith, from Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: "The BBC is meant to stand for freedom of speech and high quality journalism, yet one of its best known personalities was speaking to a room full of arms dealers who profit from repression around the world.

''It's outrageous that the government actively supports and promotes this deadly trade. The fact that arms dealers were swilling champagne with over 40 MPs is a disgrace and shows the extent of the arms trade's connections and political lobbying."

The BBC distanced itself from the presenter, with a spokesman telling the Huffington Post UK: ‘Jeremy is a freelance presenter and so can make personal appearances without speaking on behalf of the BBC, as he did here.’