Boris Johnson accepts £14000 Saudi Arabia trip weeks before journalist’s murder
Former foreign minister Boris Johnson accepted a free trip worth £14,000 from the government of Saudi Arabia two weeks before the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The cost of the three day trip to Jeddah, including travel, food and accommodation, was covered by the Saudi government according to a register of MP’s income.
The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip flew to Jeddah on September 19, two weeks before Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi embassy in Istanbul on 2 October, for meetings on education for women and girls.
The revelation comes as the UK is under increasing pressure to stop dealing arms to the Gulf kingdom.
It emerged today that the Washington Post columnist was strangled as soon as he entered the consulate before his body was dismembered and disposed of, according to the Turkish Prosecutor.
Riyadh has been accused of ordering a hit squad to execute Khashoggi – a critic of the Saudi government – as the US resident entered the consulate to collect marriage papers.
Saudi officials initially denied any involvement in the journalist’s death but have since admitted Khashoggi died in a fight.