STATE BANQUET SICKENING SPECTACLE

Not much time to blog today but would just like to wish tonight's protest outside the Saudi Embassy every success - caught a glimpse of the celebrations on last night's Newsnight and what a sickening spectacle it was. Gordon "I could not possibly sit down with Mugabe" Brown in his best white tie and tails. The Queen, Camilla, tiaras. Vile. Clare Short and Peter Kilfoyle have now added their names to an open letter in protest at King Abdullah's visit signed by 30 prominent politicians and trade union leaders. Well done all who have raised awareness of the iniquities of this despicable regime.

SAUDI STATE VISIT IS AN OUTRAGE

WELL done to the Independent today for using its front page to highlight the appalling hypocrisy of this Government in extending the hand of friendship to King Abdullah, the man who heads up one of the most loathsome regimes in the world.

In Saudi Arabia, according to Amnesty International, "Fear and secrecy permeate every aspect of life. Every day the most fundamental human rights of people in Saudi Arabia are being violated."
And, as the Indy points out, in his Labour Party conference speech last month, the Prime Minister declared that he would oppose dictatorship everywhere: "The message should go out to anyone facing persecution from Burma to Zimbabwe ... human rights are universal." He has refused to even attend the same summit as the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe.David Cameron has also just promised to put "human rights" at the heart of his "foreign policy vision".
Yet astonishingly both political leaders refuse to make a commitment to even mention human rights to the king. Instead, he will ride in a golden carriage with the Queen, and be guest of honour at a Buckingham Palace banquet. Today is the start of a three-day state visit, funded by the British taxpayer. The decision to lavish large sums and the rare prestige of a state visit on King Abdullah has attracted severe criticism in Westminster, led by Labour's John McDonnell

who says: "We are feting this man because Saudi Arabia controls 25 per cent of the world's oil, and because we sell him billions of pounds' worth of weapons. It is an insult to everything Britain stands for to put these geopolitical concerns ahead of the rights of women, trade unionists and all Saudi people."

Well said, John and I'm sorry I can't make Wednesday night's protest from 6pm outside the Saudi Embassy where the equally feisty MP Katy Clark will be joining trade unionists and socialists protesting at this disgraceful spectacle. An EDM on this matter has been tabled by John McDonnell - so far signed by 21 MPs. Which just isn't good enough, is it? We get weasel words from many in this Govt. And very very few MPs who will even think about putting their heads above the parapet. Thanks to John and Katy for being two we can always count on.

PS: Credit also to Acting Liberal democrat Leader Vince cable, who won't be attending the state banquet.

LOBBY YOUR MP TO SIGN THIS EDM!

EDMs (Early Day Motions) are one of the few routes open to backbenchers who want to show strength of feeling on issues which may not necessarily be raised by the Government. I have been asked to help attention to EDM 2102 which has been tabled by John McDonnell . get lobbying now....... http://www.writetothem.com/

STATE VISIT OF KING ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA
11.10.2007
McDonnell, John
That this House notes with concern the state visit of King Abdullah bin Abdul Azaz al Saud of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom on 30th October 2007; believes that Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive societies on earth, with no political parties, free elections, independent media or trade unions; views with alarm the systematic human rights abuses that exist within the Kingdom, such as the lack of basic rights for women, the practice of public beheadings and the repression of homosexuals; condemns the recent sale of 72 Eurofighters to such a barbaric regime; and calls upon the British Government to base its foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia on democracy and human rights rather than on narrow economic interests.