Chris Seeks Assurance Regarding Saudi Arabia

DE Saudi 16Mar23

Chris Seeks Assurance Regarding Saudi Arabia

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Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch

Will the Government learn from this tragic case the lesson that in dealing with Saudi Arabia an energetic junior Minister is an inadequate substitute for the real thing—either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary? Does the history not show that we have made a big mistake in not putting up our top team?

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Leo Docherty Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I think history shows that energetic junior Ministers can make a difference in terms of building relationships, but of course our alliance with Saudi Arabia is of such import that it merits a great deal of senior attention, which is why it gets it.

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