Fox comes under fire for Riyadh jaunt plan
LIAM Fox has been branded “appalling” for his plans to attend a business jamboree in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the Khashoggi scandal.
A string of international leaders, including IMF chief Christine Lagarde, have pulled out of the investment conference in Riyadh next week.
But International Trade Secretary Fox is refusing to ditch the jaunt.
Jeremy Corbyn warned that going ahead with the trip would be a mistake.
The Labour leader added: “It’s an appalling decision.
“From what we now know – and obviously all the information isn’t yet clear – it’s completely inappropriate to attend the conference.”
Corbyn’s spokesman said: “The Government have taken an extremely weak position over what is an absolutely scandalous and shocking act, from what we understand.”
Senior Tories also piled the pressure on Fox.
Andrew Mitchell said: “Until we have clarity about what happened, it is hard to see how a British minister could, in all conscience, attend this event.”
Another Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, agreed that Fox should “stay away” from the Saudi conference.
A International Trade department spokesman insisted that Fox’s diary “is yet to be finalised” for next week.