Tory MP Explains Why We Should Welcome The Saudi Crown Prince

7 March 2018, 08:57

The chair of the Foreign Select Committee told LBC that the Saudi Crown Prince is changing things in the country and we should welcome that.

There is controversy over the three-day visit of Mohammed bin Salman, the 32-year-old presumptive heir to the throne in Saudi Arabia.

He is due to hold talks with Theresa May and have lunch with the Queen.

Protests have been planned over the Gulf state's role in the war in Yemen and their human rights record. But Tom Tugendhat told LBC why he thinks the Saudi prince should be welcomed.

Nick Ferrari spoke to Tom Tugendhat
Nick Ferrari spoke to Tom Tugendhat. Picture: LBC / PA

He said: "People are absolutely right to be concerned, because this is a country which has had its problems in the past.

"But look at what this guy is doing. He's the new Crown Prince, he's 32 and he's made a real change already.

"The big change is the way he's trying to change the economy, he's trying to bring women and young people into employment.

"And the most important thing he did is giving a speech in Arabic - which is important because he's speaking to his own people - where he said that Islam needs to go back to the moderate Islam of our grandfathers and not to the radical form that we're seeing today.

"This is really something quite impressive. This could be the real transformation, not just for Saudi Arabia but for the whole region."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

This is the moment Nick Ferrari puts a government minister on the spot over the government's new plans to ban smoking.

'When will the Conservatives be banning alcohol?' Nick Ferrari puts minister on the spot after smoking ban vote passes

'I'm ashamed to say Nick, I started smoking when I was 12' Tory MP reveals

Minister who reveals she started smoking at 12 says she's not interested in freedom argument against ban

This guest told LBC he was against Rishi Sunak's smoking ban because 'everybody dies in the end' and the NHS should 'price in' the cost of dealing with sick Brits.

'The NHS is there to make you healthy' guest dismisses smoking ban as 'everybody dies in the end'

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Lord Kim Darroch the former UK National Security Advisor for his assessment of the performance of "the current PM, the man who was PM and the man who wants to be PM"

Rishi Sunak has 'left the pitch free' for Lord Cameron to be Foreign Sec and 'toughen the line on Israel', says former diplomat

David Cameron tells LBC using RAF jets to shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine would lead to a 'dangerous escalation' in the conflict.

Nick Ferrari puts David Cameron on the spot: 'Why can't the RAF shoot down drones over Ukraine like they do Israel?'

Lord Cameron has described Iran’s strike on Israel as a “double defeat”

Lord Cameron urges Israel to ‘take the win,' don't retaliate and focus on defeating Hamas after Iran’s ‘double defeat’

Exclusive
Rishi Sunak has pledged a crackdown on shoplifting

'We’ve got your back': Rishi Sunak’s message to retail staff as he pledges crackdown on dangerous shoplifters

Exclusive
'None of our closest allies have stopped': Rishi Sunak defends decision not to suspend arms sales to Israel

'None of our closest allies have stopped': Rishi Sunak defends decision not to suspend arms sales to Israel

Exclusive
Braverman: Iran is 'funding and supporting proxies to carry out attacks in the UK'

Suella Braverman warns Iranian regime 'funding and supporting' 'targeted attacks' on UK streets

Exclusive
The mural on the wall of the Golden Chippy

A Greenwich fish and chip shop that's causing a stink over painting, as owner tells LBC he's 'determined to keep mural up'

Rishi Sunak’s job is under threat from a plot of backbench Tory MPs who want to replace him with Penny Mordaunt before the general election.

Tories 'need to stop messing around and get behind the Prime Minister,' Business Secretary tells LBC

Exclusive
'This is trivia': Kemi Badenoch hits out at continued furore over Tory donor 'racism' row

'This is trivia': Kemi Badenoch hits out at continued furore over Tory donor 'racism' row

Government suspends tariffs on key imports to boost SMEs launching £660 million northern powerhouse fund

Government suspends tariffs on key imports to boost SMEs launching £660 million northern powerhouse fund

'Floating voters' unconvinced by Jeremy Hunt's Budget

LBC's 'Floating Voters' left unconvinced by Jeremy Hunt's Budget

Leila Khaled, who hijacked planes, will appear via video link at a fundraiser hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Andy Street wants police to look at the event

'I'm not comfortable with it': West Mids Mayor to speak to police amid fury over Palestinian hijacker’s fundraiser

Andy Street taking calls from the public on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Tory MP's claim that Birmingham has 'no-go areas' was 'ridiculous', West Midlands Mayor tells LBC