Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski dismisses Saudi links
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has dismissed criticism of his links with Saudi Arabia.
Mr Kawczynski was featured in a report by the Buzzfeed website which linked his support for Saudi Arabia to payments from some of the country's organisations – such as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The report followed Mr Kawczynski's denounciation of a decision by the UK Government to pull out of a £5.9 million prison training contract with Saudi Arabia in the wake of Saudi threats to flog an elderly British citizen for making his own wine.
The Conservative MP rejected any criticism of the payments, amounting to £15,000, saying the figures were the value of free flights and accommodation as part of official visits while chairman of the All Party Saudi Arabia Group – a post he held for seven years.
He said: "What I resent is the suggestion it is donation. It is not a donation to me or my party. It is just that they have paid for a ticket and accommodation.
"I frankly resent the way the media suggests that if we have gone to a country at the invitation of another country that you are going to be influenced.
"You do have to go overseas and establish relationships with other countries. British lives have been saved because of intelligence we have received."
