SAUDI Arabia has welcomed Theresa May’s decision to criticise Boris Johnson on the basis that she must have cleared it with her husband.

May stressed the Foreign Secretary was wrong to point out Saudi Arabia’s role in destabilising the Middle East, stressing the Saudi regime had ‘superb taste’ in British-made military aircraft.

A spokesman for King Salman said: “Your prime minister, Philip May, has apologised and we welcome his reassurance that your country will remain a dutiful servant.

“It is unfortunate that he chose to express himself through his woman. We look forward to normalising our diplomatic relationship as soon as possible.”

The spokesman said the King now expected a ‘conciliatory gift’ from Britain, such as the Lake District National Park or an actor who has played James Bond.