BBC: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said there is “candour” in the UK’s relationship with Saudi Arabia.
He was rebuked last week by Downing Street after suggesting the country backed “proxy wars” in the Middle East.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon played down reports of a rift between Mr Johnson and Theresa May, accusing the media of misreporting.
Labour insisted that Mr Johnson, who is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, had been “slapped down”.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Riyadh with Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, the foreign secretary said: “I’m here to emphasise the friendship that exists between the UK and Saudi Arabia, and that is something that is developing and expanding.
“And it’s also fair to say that we believe in candour in our relationship. Now is the time for us to talk about the positive things that we are doing together.”
Last week, the Guardian newspaper published footage of a meeting in Rome at which Mr Johnson had said Saudi Arabia and Iran were involved in “proxy wars being fought the whole time” in the Middle East. Full on BBC
