Keir Starmer defends controversial trade mission to Saudi Arabia – and insists boosting economic growth is his ‘number one mission’

Keir Starmer last night defended his controversial trade mission to Saudi Arabia, saying that boosting economic growth was now his ‘number one mission’.

The Prime Minister fiercely criticised Boris Johnson for visiting Saudi Arabia as part of a tour of Gulf countries in 2022, accusing him of ‘going cap in hand from dictator to dictator’.

But, speaking after visits to the United Arab Emirates and the Saudi capital Riyadh – where he was pictured shaking hands with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Court – Sir Keir said he believed better relations with the region were vital to growth. 

He said recent deals with Riyadh had ‘yielded’ 4,000 jobs in the UK.

‘Last week I launched my plan for change and made it clear that economic growth in the UK is my number one mission, and I want that to be people feeling better off, living standards driven up across the United Kingdom, in all parts of the United Kingdom, he said.

‘For that to happen we have to win contracts and investment around the world, and UAE and Saudi Arabia are key partners of ours.

‘So I’ve been making the case that now’s the time for further investment into our country.’

This week’s trip is the 16th foreign visit made by Sir Keir since winning the election in July.

Sir Keir said he believed better relations with the region were vital to growth as he met the Saudi head of state at the Royal Court

The Prime Minister arriving off the RAF government aircraft at King Khalid International Airport

Campaigners called on Sir Keir to bring up the issue of children facing the death penalty in the Gulf state

Campaign group Reprieve called on Sir Keir to raise the issue of children facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, while the widow of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi urged the Prime Minister to question crown prince Mohammed bin Salman about the notorious case.

Downing Street insisted the PM was ‘able’ to raise ‘difficult issues’ like Saudi Arabia’s dire human rights record, but did not confirm whether he had raised specific cases.

A Number 10 readout of the meeting between the two leaders merely said they had ‘discussed the steps taken by the Crown Prince’s government to improve human rights’.

The PM said he had invited the Crown Prince to visit the UK and suggested the pair could watch a game of football together.