BRITISH pacifists accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of hypocrisy today after he apologised to people who were thrown out of the British armed forces for being LGBT. 

Mr Sunak apologised for the “horrific” treatment of LGBT people who served in the military under the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

The apology was made after a recommendation from a government-commissioned independent review into the service and experience of LGBT veterans who served in the armed forces between 1967 and 2000.

But LGBT members of the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) argued that British troops continue to provide military training to the forces of homophobic regimes.

These include Saudi Arabia, Uganda and Saudi Arabia, regarded as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be gay, bi or trans, and a major purchaser of British-made weapons.

The PPU also pointed to recent investigations that reveal homophobic bullying remains rife in the UK armed forces. 

PPU campaigns manager Symon Hill, who is bisexual, said: “Rishi Sunak’s apology is largely meaningless. 

“The UK government, and its armed forces, are still complicit in the persecution of LGBT+ people. 

“They provide military training to some of the world’s most viciously homophobic regimes, including Saudi Arabia and Uganda. 

“LGBT+ people in Saudi Arabia are locked up, tortured and killed by forces who have been provided with weapons and military support by Sunak and his colleagues. 

“LGBT+ people fleeing persecution are among the refugees Sunak’s ministers are busy demonising and turning away.”

The review, carried out by Lord Etherton, former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was published earlier today and made 49 recommendations to the government, including making an “appropriate financial award” to affected veterans.