Britain has dramatically increased the value of weaponry and defence equipment it sells to the world’s most repressive regimes since vows by senior ministers to expand arms exports after the Brexit vote.

Trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan kicking off talks in Saudi Arabia.

A CERTAIN dreary and dismal familiarity has developed around the Tories’ desperate efforts to secure trade deals with countries outwith the European Union, having decided to turn their back on the UK’s biggest export market.

Ministers are desperate to sign new trade deals after damaging the UK economy with Brexit.