Ukraine-Russia: Boris Johnson set to turn to Saudi Arabia for oil and gas supply amid claims UK will still challenge Gulf state over human rights abuses

The UK will continue to challenge Saudi Arabia over human rights abuses despite reports Boris Johnson will turn to the Gulf to supply oil and gas, a Cabinet minister has said.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said Britain had a “very candid and frank” relationship with the Gulf state, as the Prime Minister was reported to be preparing for a trip to Riyadh amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin has put more pressure on energy costs as the West tries to wean itself off supplies of Russian oil and gas.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks past children's sunflower pictures, made in solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Picture: AP Photo/Matt Dunham

Mr Johnson reportedly plans to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon in the hope his kingdom can raise its production of oil and gas to make up for a reduced reliance on Russia.

The Saudi prince has been repeatedly criticised for human rights abuses and, over the weekend, the country’s state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the executions of 81 people convicted of a variety of crimes, marking the largest mass execution conducted there in recent memory.

Mr Javid said the country was an “important” economic partner.

He told LBC: “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with the Saudi government where there’s always a very frank exchange.

“We don’t agree with [their] approach on human rights – we’re always right to call that out and to talk to them, frankly, about that.

“At the same time, it is also possible to have an economic relationship.

“You know, whether people like it or not, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of crude oil and it’s important, especially at the time of a major global energy crisis, that we have these talks with them.”

Mr Javid told Times Radio “when it comes to human rights there’s a lot we disagree on” with the Saudis.

“And the executions that you just referred to [are] clearly things that we would not support,” he said.

“But that said, it is an important country, especially when it comes to energy supplies and in terms of [an] economic relationship, and it is right that we’re continuing to talk.”

Speaking on Sky News, he added: “We’re not dependent directly as a country on their oil, but energy prices and access to energy is a hugely important issue.”

The Prime Minister is hoping his personal relationship with the Saudi prince will help start a conversation about Gulf states supplying more oil and gas, The Times reported on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Amnesty International UK chief executive Sacha Deshmukh warned “under Mohammed bin Salman the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia has become increasingly repressive”.

The organisation’s intervention came after Newcastle United travelled to Saudi Arabia for a mid-season training camp in January.

The country’s Public Investment Fund – of which the prince is chairman – owns an 80 per cent stake of the consortium which owns the football club.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe refused to comment on the Saudi political situation over the weekend.

However, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel questioned the Premier League’s ownership tests.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has had all of his UK assets frozen – except for the club, which is allowed to operate with restrictions – in the wake of Downing Street claiming to have proven the Russian-Israeli billionaire’s links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.