Tony Blair has been criticised for not cutting ties with Saudi Arabia after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered.

The former Prime Minister was accused of being ‘complicit’ in the murder of the writer after his Institute for Global Change group said it would not stop working with the regime.

Mr Khashoggi, 59, was killed inside the Saudi Arabian consulate, in Istanbul, on October 2, with reports linking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with his murder.

Britain’s former Prime (Picture: EPA)

But Mr Blair and his group, which signed multi-million pound contract with the government of Saudi Arabia, look likely to continue their relationship that was meant to help the country ‘modernise’.




‘We have nothing further to add to what Mr Blair has said previously,’ an institute spokesperson told Business Insider in regards to whether the former Labour party would distance himself from the Saudi royal family.

That stance has not been looked on favourably by Labour MP Lloyd Russell Moyle.

He added: ‘If Mr Blair doesn’t see the light and continues to accept money from the Saudis then I think his moral integrity is in ruins.

‘Our own government is reviewing their relationship with Saudi Arabia and if others are not doing the same then they are complicit in war crimes and murder.’

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Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered (Picture: AP)

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (Picture: Reuters)

Mr Blair, who is apparently keeping a close eye on developments in the case, has already expressed his concern over the murder of Mr Khashoggi but is also keen to continue helping Saudi Arabia.

A spokesperson for The Institute for Global Change said in a statement: ‘TBI is a not for profit organisation and all the money received goes to support this work.

‘Tony Blair receives no personal remuneration from the Institute.

‘Donations made to the Institute are used to fund our partnerships with 14 African governments where we work to deliver better living standards and job opportunities for their people and the Middle East, where we promote religious co-existence, modernisation and reform and support a regional solution to the peace process.’

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