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Margaret Thatcher's lobbying of Saudi royals over arms deal revealed | Margaret Thatcher's lobbying of Saudi royals over arms deal revealed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The extent to which Margaret Thatcher personally lobbied the Saudi royal family, flattering them at every opportunity to secure Britain’s biggest arms deal, is revealed in newly released documents. | The extent to which Margaret Thatcher personally lobbied the Saudi royal family, flattering them at every opportunity to secure Britain’s biggest arms deal, is revealed in newly released documents. |
They show how anxious British ministers and diplomats pursued the Saudis to buy Tornado and Hawk aircraft in what became a £43bn deal known as al-Yamamah (Arabic for dove). Many documents have been withheld and passages removed to suppress embarrassing disclosures. | They show how anxious British ministers and diplomats pursued the Saudis to buy Tornado and Hawk aircraft in what became a £43bn deal known as al-Yamamah (Arabic for dove). Many documents have been withheld and passages removed to suppress embarrassing disclosures. |
One document refers to a meeting between British officials and Prince Sultan, the Saudi defence minister, in September 1985. It reads: “At the meeting, the prince indicated that, particularly in view of our willingness … [passage deleted] … there might be further UK orders in connection with construction work …” | One document refers to a meeting between British officials and Prince Sultan, the Saudi defence minister, in September 1985. It reads: “At the meeting, the prince indicated that, particularly in view of our willingness … [passage deleted] … there might be further UK orders in connection with construction work …” |
A number of pages have been removed after a document refers to “offset” arrangements and “payment methods”. The papers refer to a press report that £600m backhanders were passed to arms dealers known as the four cavaliers. | |
The Yamamah deal became mired in a long-running controversy over allegations that BAE, Britain’s biggest arms dealer, made huge illicit payments to Saudi royals to land the contract. In 2006, Tony Blair’s government abruptly halted a Serious Fraud Office investigation into the allegations following pressure from the Saudis and the firm. In 2010, BAE agreed to pay almost £300m in penalties, to settle an investigation by US and UK authorities into alleged corruption in its deals with the Saudis and other countries. | |
Until the Yamamah deal was finally signed in September 1985, British officials expressed concern that France might persuade the Saudis to buy Mirage jets instead of Tornados. | Until the Yamamah deal was finally signed in September 1985, British officials expressed concern that France might persuade the Saudis to buy Mirage jets instead of Tornados. |
With the enthusiastic backing of British arms companies, Thatcher apologised to King Fahd for hostile comments about Saudi Arabia in the British press. At a time when the arms deal was in the offing, but not yet agreed, she told the king on 2 January 1985 that she was delighted “relations between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia are warm and friendly”. | |
She said: “I attach the very highest importance to maintaining and improving them, and I am convinced that the possibilities for cooperation between our two governments and peoples are very great indeed. | |
“I am particularly encouraged by Your Majesty’s welcome assurance that British press reporting on Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to influence our bilateral relations.” | |
On 23 August 1985, as the Tornado and Hawk deal was close to being finalised, Thatcher conveyed to the king her “warmest respects”. She wrote: “Your Majesty proposed that the contract agreement should be between our two governments. I warmly support this proposal which I see as offering the opportunity develop still closer relations between our two countries at government level”. | |
Intriguingly, the letter has been redacted just before a passage in which Thatcher says she agrees that “no publicity whatever” should be given to the negotiations over the arms deal. | Intriguingly, the letter has been redacted just before a passage in which Thatcher says she agrees that “no publicity whatever” should be given to the negotiations over the arms deal. |
Thatcher bowed to the Saudi demands for secrecy. “You may be confident of our complete discretion”, Thatcher told King Fahd in January 1985. | Thatcher bowed to the Saudi demands for secrecy. “You may be confident of our complete discretion”, Thatcher told King Fahd in January 1985. |
Officials in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence wrote: “The prime minister has instructed that there are to be no (no) leaks from the British side.” | Officials in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence wrote: “The prime minister has instructed that there are to be no (no) leaks from the British side.” |
A document records that Sir Patrick Wright, the UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia, “emphasised the extreme secrecy and delicacy with which this matter was being handled in London”. | A document records that Sir Patrick Wright, the UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia, “emphasised the extreme secrecy and delicacy with which this matter was being handled in London”. |
The full extent of the commissions on the deal remain secret. They are understood to be the subject of a National Audit Office report that remains under lock and key. | The full extent of the commissions on the deal remain secret. They are understood to be the subject of a National Audit Office report that remains under lock and key. |
Whitehall weeders have withdrawn numerous pages from the files under a section of the Public Records Act that enables government departments to prevent the release of government documents indefinitely. | Whitehall weeders have withdrawn numerous pages from the files under a section of the Public Records Act that enables government departments to prevent the release of government documents indefinitely. |
Saudi Arabia remains Britain’s biggest arms market. Last year it bought 72 Typhoon aircraft in a deal valued at more than £7bn. | Saudi Arabia remains Britain’s biggest arms market. Last year it bought 72 Typhoon aircraft in a deal valued at more than £7bn. |
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