UK news is full of Saudi Arabia to punish a drug producer, transporter and probable dealer who was fully aware of the consequences of his actions.
14.00 edit: It appears that the story about the drug dealer is intended to hide another story about Saudi Arabia.
Jeremy Corbyn: the prime minister has been shamed into a U-turn
Jeremy Corbyn has issued a statement on Cameron’s decision to scrap the Saudi prisons contract:
David Cameron has been shamed into a u-turn on this terrible contract, but why on earth was it set up in the first place? We should be sending a strong message to repressive regimes that the UK is a beacon for human rights and that this contract bid is unacceptable in the 21st century, and would damage Britain’s standing in the world.
This is the first major victory for Corbyn as leader of the opposition (though much of the credit should also go to Michael Gove and the Times). Here is an extract from the Labour leader’s speech to the party’s autumn conference on 29th September, in which he challenged Cameron to scrap the deal.
So to David Cameron I say: Intervene personally with the Saudi Arabian regime to stop the beheading and crucifixion of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr for taking part in a demonstration when just 17 years old.
And start by terminating the Ministry of Justice’s bid to provide services to the Saudi prisons service – the very body which would be responsible for carrying out this barbaric sentence.
This is the kind of thing that really damages Britain’s standing in the world.