I’ll be an inspiration to oppressed women in Saudi says Theresa

THERESA May positioned herself as a role model for oppressed women last night as she prepared for a visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister suggested women in the desert kingdom, who are not even allowed to drive, would find inspiration in the sight of a female leader holding talks with their almost exclusively male government.

‘I hope that people see me as a woman leader and will see what women can achieve and how women can be in significant positions,’ she told reporters on a flight to the region yesterday.

Tomorrow Mrs May will hold talks with Princess Reema, who last year became the first woman to be appointed to a Saudi government role. She was made vice-president for women’s affairs in the country’s governing sports body.

Mrs May’s comments came as she was caught up in a row over Saudi Arabia’s dire human rights record.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the Prime Minister of being ‘ ready to sacrifice human rights and security on the altar of the arms trade’.

Amnesty International urged her to suspend British arms sales until Saudi Arabia stops bombing rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

The kingdom operates one of the most repressive regimes for women in the world.

They need permission from a male guardian before they can travel or marry and most state schools do not offer sport lessons for girls. Women also have to wear clothes which cover their entire bodies, including wrists and ankles, as well as headscarves.

Ex-US First Lady Michelle Obama caused controversy on a recent visit when she became the first female dignitary to decline to wear a headscarf.

Downing Street was tightlipped about what Mrs May will wear when she arrives in Riyadh today for talks with the deputy crown prince and other senior ministers.

Yesterday she said the UK was working to encourage the governing family to take a more enlightened view but acknowledged that she would like to see more progress on women’s rights.

She pointed to the country’s Vision 2030 strategy, although the only mention of women is an ambition to raise their employment rate from 22 per cent to 30 per cent.

‘I’ve talked to the Saudis on a number of occasions and I raise issues of this sort,’ she said. ‘We have already seen some changes. Generally we do encourage people to look at a woman’s role in society.’

Princess Reema is seen as a trailblazer, running successful businesses, including Harvey nichols in Riyadh, as well as having her official role.

Mrs May’s trip aims to foster post-Brexit business links with the Saudis, the UK’s biggest Middle East trade partner.

Last night while in Jordan, she unveiled a £1billion aid project to stem the flow of refugees from Syria to Europe.

Mrs May said it was in Britain’s interest to provide education and jobs for the 650,000 refugees who have fled to other countries in the region.

‘We have already seen changes’