Arms Deal 'Legitimate' - Cameron

David Cameron has described as 'legitimate and right' the UK’s decision to sell fighter jets to Dubai and Saudi Arabia despite allegations of human rights abuses in those countries.

The PM said countries had a right to self defence and said the countries have discussed issues such as human rights.

"We discuss all of these things but we also show respect and friendship to a very old ally and partner," he said.

"We have one of the strictest regimes anywhere in the world for sales of defence equipment but we do believe that countries have a right to self-defence and we do believe that Britain has important defence industries that employ over 300,000 people so that sort of business is completely legitimate and right."

It is thought David Cameron is seeking to increase co-operation with UAE as preparation for potential conflict with Iran.

"It is not just about trade and investment," he said.

"We are also partners in defence and security, we worked together in Libya and Afghanistan and we will be talking about all the key regional and global issues."

The PM pointed out that British exports to UAE had increased 16% in the first half of the year and he said it was important to be involved with the fastest-growing economies in the world to compete in the "global economic race".

The Gulf region’s economies continue to out grow the UK’s. The Foreign Office says it wants the UK to be "the Gulf's commercial partner of choice".

(IT/GK)