The Scottish National Party (SNP) urged the British government yesterday to abandon “knee-jerk militarism” and adopt an “ethical and effective” foreign policy in the new year, following months of Western-backed bloodshed in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Theresa May has faced cross-party opposition to her continued sales of arms to the Saudi regime, which has used the weapons in indiscriminate attacks on Yemen that have killed numerous civilians.

The SNP condemned Tory ministers’ “shamefully stained” relationship with Saudi Arabia and called for an independent inquiry after reports emerged that outlawed British-made cluster bombs have been used on targets in Yemen.