Downing Street Defends UK’s Approach To Saudi Arabia After 81 Men Are Executed In A Single Day
Downing Street defended the UK's relationship with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (Alamy)
3 min read
Number 10 has defended its approach to dealing with Saudi Arabia after the country executed 81 men on Saturday.
It comes as Boris Johnson is believed to be preparing for a trip to Riyadh to discuss oil exports amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
There has been criticism of the Prime Minister’s proposed talks with his Saudi counterpart given the Middle East kingdom’s human rights record.
At the weekend the country's state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the executions of 81 people convicted of a variety of crimes, including political prisoners, marking the largest mass execution conducted there in recent memory.
But the PM’s official spokesperson defended the reported plans for Johnson to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the hope that production of oil and gas can be ramped up to make up for a reduced reliance on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
They said: "The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty in every country as a matter of principle.
"We continue to raise human rights issues with other countries including Saudi Arabia. We do not shy away from raising these issues with our partners."
Asked whether the UK would like to see Saudi Arabia increase oil production, the spokesperson said: "We will be speaking to the Saudis about a range of issues, not just energy supply.
"Diversifying our energy supply is important, as is boosting renewable energy. There are no quick fixes but we do want to reduce the volatility and bring prices down."
Johnson also met with leaders of the offshore oil and gas industry this morning to “discuss the UK's energy security and investment in the North Sea”, Downing Street revealed.
Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling said Britain was left "shocked" by the 81 executions, adding our ambassador has already raised “strong concerns with the Saudi national security adviser and their vice-foreign minister”.
She was replying to an urgent question in the Commons from the Conservative former minister Crispin Blunt, who said the incident “represents a new low for human rights and criminal justice in the kingdom”.
He warned Johnson will face "exquisite difficulties" on his reported visit to Saudi Arabia, asking Milling: “What assurances will he be seeking from Saudi Arabia in respect of human rights on his next visit there?
"Will he at least seek an assurance that the execution of those arrested for alleged crimes when children will cease?”
Earlier the health secretary Sajid Javid said Britain had a "very candid and frank" relationship with the Gulf state, which remains an "important" economic partner.
"We don't agree with their approach on human rights - we're always right to call that out and to talk to them, frankly, about that,” he told LBC.
"At the same time, it is also possible to have an economic relationship.”
Javid said “whether people like it or not, Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of crude oil”, and therefore it was important given the global energy crisis to hold talks with them.
On the Prime Minister's prospective visit to Saudi Arabia, a Number 10 spokesman said: "Nothing is planned at the moment. We will update in the usual way if anything is confirmed."
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