Labour demand over Saudi training claims

LABOUR have demanded that the Government comes clean on whether it has secretly authorised British private security firms to train Saudi police officers and government officials in the UK.

The call comes amid claims that such training, which had ceased following outrage over the assassination of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, has resumed.

The Home Office declined to confirm or deny that private security firms have been permitted to offer training. A spokesman said: ‘It is right that we work with countries around the world to address common threats.’

Security sources have claimed to The Mail on Sunday that private airfields in Lincolnshire and Humberside have been used to provide training to Saudi officials and that military and police courses have been conducted in Hampshire.

Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the claims raise ‘incredibly serious questions’.