The crowned prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, 32, was given a warm welcome by Downing Street and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Britain. However, his visit has not been welcomed by some political figures who have criticised the Saudi Prince's visit, and spoken out against Saudi bombing Yemen.
There were many demonstrators outside Downing Street who protested against the Prince's visit as they demanded an end to the violence in Yemen, as well as an immediate halt in the UK selling weapons to Riyadh. Retired international development worker, Denis Hawes said, “The Saudis are bombing Yemen indiscriminately and selling them arms is not the answer. But the UK is so desperate for trade.”
The leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn accused Prime Minister Theresa May of “colluding in what the UN says is evidence of war crimes”, while the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable stated that the British Government gave the “red carpet equivalent of a state visit” to “the dictatorial head of a medieval, theocratic regime”. Cable also stated that the Saudi prince was “actively seeing to undermine” the Iranian nuclear deal, as well as attempted to “fan the flames of sectarian conflict” in Qatar, Syria and Lebanon.
Amid all the criticism, Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, is known for the modernisation of Saudi Arabia by introducing the nation to the 21st century. He has launched an anti-corruption campaign, as well promised to liberalise the economy. Women driving was prohibited in Saudi Arabia, but he has revoked this rule and allowed women the freedom to drive.
Furthermore, the Saudi Crown Prince has also promised a more moderate version of Islam in comparison to what has governed the kingdom for generations.
However, the war in Yemen, and having formed an unlikely alliance with Israel against Iran could be some of the many factors for the backlash to his UK visit.
The British Government signed an outline deal with Saudi Arabia for the sale of 48 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which yet again sparked another dispute with the Labour party regarding the sales of weapons and the war in Yemen.
The controversial aid deal between UK and Saudi Arabia in which the British Government signed a £100 million aid agreement with Riyadh, has been branded as a “national disgrace”.
The shadow international development secretary, Kate Osamor said, “Theresa May implied she would lobby Mohammed Bin Salman to stop bombing civilians and end the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Over 22 million Yemeni lives depend on permanent, full access for aid, food and fuel in Yemen. Instead, she had won no concessions and simply handed on a plate to Saudi Arabia a new humanitarian partnership and an endorsement from DfID [the Department for International Development], the world's best aid agency. It will whitewash Saudi Arabia's reputation and role in the war, and it is a national disgrace.”
