Saudi Arabia: Mass Executions

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:53 pm on 24 April 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Alan Duncan Alan Duncan Minister of State 12:53, 24 April 2019

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for what he has said. He speaks with the utmost authority in this House and was an excellent Minister for the Middle East; I have to say that, at a moment like this, I rather wish that he still was. I can say in all honesty that, despite always being polite, he never held back from telling his counterparts in Saudi Arabia where he thought they were making mistakes and where he thought their record on human rights fell short. It is by having access of that sort and having trusted Ministers on our side that we can best get that message over—and I hope, over time, make a difference.