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| Cable to boycott Saudi King visit | Cable to boycott Saudi King visit |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Liberal Democrat acting leader Vince Cable is boycotting the state visit to Britain of Saudi King Abdullah. | Liberal Democrat acting leader Vince Cable is boycotting the state visit to Britain of Saudi King Abdullah. |
| Mr Cable says he will not attend any of the planned ceremonial events - as would be normal for the leader of one of the main opposition parties. | Mr Cable says he will not attend any of the planned ceremonial events - as would be normal for the leader of one of the main opposition parties. |
| He cited Saudi Arabia's arms deal with the British firm BAE and the row over alleged corruption surrounding it. | He cited Saudi Arabia's arms deal with the British firm BAE and the row over alleged corruption surrounding it. |
| He said he had also been critical of the Saudi regime's human rights record, including its treatment of Britons. | He said he had also been critical of the Saudi regime's human rights record, including its treatment of Britons. |
| Defence deals | Defence deals |
| The Saudi ambassador, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, said: "We respect all the political parties in the UK and we will continue to work together to pursue our common goals for the best interests of our two kingdoms." | |
| Mr Cable's decision follows the controversy which erupted last year when Tony Blair halted a long-running Serious Fraud Office inquiry into the £40bn Al-Yamamah deal signed by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. | Mr Cable's decision follows the controversy which erupted last year when Tony Blair halted a long-running Serious Fraud Office inquiry into the £40bn Al-Yamamah deal signed by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. |
| In my opinionit is quite wrong for the British government to have proposed a state visit at this time Vincent CableLiberal Democrat acting leader | In my opinionit is quite wrong for the British government to have proposed a state visit at this time Vincent CableLiberal Democrat acting leader |
| Mr Blair argued that Saudi security co-operation in the fight against international terrorism could be jeopardised if the investigation continued. | Mr Blair argued that Saudi security co-operation in the fight against international terrorism could be jeopardised if the investigation continued. |
| But critics claimed he was more concerned that Britain could lose out on a fresh £20bn contract to supply the Saudis with 72 Eurofighters - which the Ministry of Defence confirmed last month is going ahead. | But critics claimed he was more concerned that Britain could lose out on a fresh £20bn contract to supply the Saudis with 72 Eurofighters - which the Ministry of Defence confirmed last month is going ahead. |
| In a letter to the Saudi ambassador in London, Mr Cable said: "In my opinion, it is quite wrong for the British government to have proposed a state visit at this time. | In a letter to the Saudi ambassador in London, Mr Cable said: "In my opinion, it is quite wrong for the British government to have proposed a state visit at this time. |
| "Therefore, it would, I believe, be inappropriate for me to participate in a ceremonial state visit against this background." | "Therefore, it would, I believe, be inappropriate for me to participate in a ceremonial state visit against this background." |
| Interests 'inseparable' | Interests 'inseparable' |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Vince Cable's decision to decline the state banquet is a matter for him." | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Vince Cable's decision to decline the state banquet is a matter for him." |
| The decision to invite King Abdullah now reflected the "long-standing friendship" between the two nations, she added. | The decision to invite King Abdullah now reflected the "long-standing friendship" between the two nations, she added. |
| British and Saudi interests were "intertwined and inseparable" across a range of issues from counter-terrorism to ensuring stability in the Middle East. | British and Saudi interests were "intertwined and inseparable" across a range of issues from counter-terrorism to ensuring stability in the Middle East. |
| Conservative shadow defence secretary Liam Fox warned that Mr Cable's move would be seen as "juvenile gesture politics" and risked insulting one of Britain's main allies in the Gulf. | |
| Meanwhile, Labour leftwinger John McDonnell said that protesters would be staging a mass demo outside the Saudi Embassy on Wednesday. | Meanwhile, Labour leftwinger John McDonnell said that protesters would be staging a mass demo outside the Saudi Embassy on Wednesday. |