Raab: We depend on ally for jobs
SAUDI Arabia’s claim that Jamal Khashoggi died in a fist fight is not credible – but the UK will not terminate its relationship with the kingdom, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab joined growing demands for more answers on how Mr Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
But he said the UK would not cut ties with the Gulf state, partly because British jobs depended on it. On Friday, Saudi Arabia admitted for the first time that Mr Khashoggi was dead, saying he was killed in a fist fight.
The following day protesters marched in London against the regime. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Mr Raab said of Saudi Arabia’s explanation: ‘I don’t think it is credible. We support the Turkish investigation and the British government will want to see people held to account for that death.’
Pressed on how the UK would respond, he said: ‘You’re right to say we’re not throwing our hands in the air and terminating a relationship with Saudi Arabia, not just because of the huge number of British jobs that depends on it, but also because if you exert influence over your partners you need to be able to talk to them.’ He added: ‘We need to get the answers as to what actually happened and then I think we can take a sensible and sober judgment call.’
His comments echoed Donald Trump, who has reiterated the importance of economic ties with Saudi Arabia. He said of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman: ‘He’s seen as a person who can keep things under check.’
Last night Britain, France and Germany united to condemn the killing in a joint statement. ‘Nothing can justify this killing and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,’ they said.
‘There remains an urgent need for clarification of exactly what happened.’