While David Cameron was answering questions about a teenager on death row in Saudi Arabia yesterday, Philip Hammond was wooing the Saudi representative at the Arab Ambassador’s Council party at Tory conference. The booze was flowing – something that would get you put behind bars in most of the countries present – as spicy beef, falafel and flat breads were served to ambassadors and representatives from such lovely places as the UAE, Sudan, Oman, Turkey, Libya, Iraq and Sudan. The event was sponsored by Kuwait. 

“His Excellency” Hammond told his guests: “The UK has a huge commitment to the security of the gulf… your security is our security“, praising the “generosity of His Majesty the King of Bahrain“. He neglected to mention human rights.

Next door Eric Pickles was entertaining the Conservative Friends of Pakistan reception, opening with the words “salaam alaikum, chums…”