UK pulls out of £5.9m Saudi jail deal

The UK government has withdrawn from a controversial £5.9m prisons deal with Saudi Arabia, Downing Street has said. The PM’s official spokeswoman said it reflected the government’s decision to focus on domestic priorities. The deal was to provide a “training needs analysis” for Saudi prison service staff. No 10 stressed pulling out of the deal […]

The UK government has withdrawn from a controversial £5.9m prisons deal with Saudi Arabia, Downing Street has said.
The PM’s official spokeswoman said it reflected the government’s decision to focus on domestic priorities.
The deal was to provide a “training needs analysis” for Saudi prison service staff.
No 10 stressed pulling out of the deal was unconnected to the case of expat Karl Andree, jailed in Saudi Arabia after being caught with homemade wine.
It was thought 74-year-old Mr Andree, who has been in jail for more than a year, was facing 360 lashes but the BBC now understands a flogging was never on the cards.
Despite withdrawing from the prison deal, Justice Secretary Michael Gove insisted Britain would maintain its relationship with the country.