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BLOOD ON HIS HANDS? Philip Hammond was in Saudi Arabia to discuss economic co-operation despite the Court of Appeal finding that arms sales to the country broke the law because of its brutal war on Yemen
CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond rubbed shoulders with Saudi Arabia’s warmongering King Salman at a royal palace in Jeddah today.
Hammond’s scheming with the kleptocrat over potential finance and security co-operation was immediately criticised by Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), which said it showed Britain’s “uncritical support” for the dictatorship.
CAAT spokesman Andrew Smith told the Star: “Only two weeks ago the Court of Appeal found that the UK government was breaking the law by arming and supporting the terrible Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen.
“The regime has come under unprecedented international condemnation due to the war and the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
“Despite the backdrop of war and repression, the message that Philip Hammond is sending is one of ‘business as usual.’
“The pictures of this visit will be seen around the world and will be treated as another statement of uncritical support for the dictatorship.
“It’s time for Hammond and his colleagues to end the arms sales and stop their complicity in Saudi state repression.”
The state-run Saudi Press Agency said Mr Hammond and the King had “reviewed means of developing and strengthening economic and financial co-operation between the two friendly countries and promising opportunities.
“They also reviewed security co-operation and regional developments in light of Iranian threats to waterways and the freedom of international navigation.”
A Saudi government henchman, the fearsome Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, perched himself between King Salman and Mr Hammond for a photograph.
Mr Hammond was flanked by Ken Costa, a British special envoy to Saudi Arabia who recently donated £10,000 to Jeremy Hunt’s leadership campaign.
London Stock Exchange chief executive David Schwimmer also joined the Chancellor’s delegation to Jeddah.
The Red Sea summit comes just weeks after a UN report found “credible evidence” that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the “deliberate, premeditated execution” of outspoken journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The author of the scathing report, Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, will be speaking in London tomorrow night alongside Mr Khashoggi’s widow, Hatice Cengiz.
The event will discuss “how can the climate of impunity in Saudi Arabia which enabled the crime be addressed?”
