CONDUCT OF THE HON. MEMBER FOR TWICKENHAM AND THE VISIT OF THE KING OF SAUDI ARABIA TO THE UK

That this House deplores the announcement by the hon. Member for Twickenham, in his capacity as acting Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, that he will boycott meetings and events arranged as part of the official programme of the visit by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to the UK; commends the work of the Government and the Official Opposition in fostering better relations with Saudi Arabia in the interests of improving the prospects for peace in the Middle East, increasing commercial and cultural exchanges between Saudi Arabia and the UK and developing a closer understanding between the peoples of the countries not least in the meetings of the UK-Saudi Two Kingdoms Dialogue; believes the policy of the Liberal Democrats to be further evidence of the political immaturity of that party and its lack of fitness for Government; and calls for the hon. Member for Twickenham to reverse his stance and commit to participating in meaningful and mature dialogue with the King of Saudi Arabia and his representatives in the interests of the UK, international diplomacy and global peace.