The Foreign Secretary on Sunday stood by his controversial comments last week about Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in proxy wars and said he has a candid relationship with the country.

Boris Johnson said the remarks, which earned a public rebuke from Downing Street, had been distorted but stressed he had not retreated from them during a day of closed talks yesterday with Saudi leaders.

Speaking on the sidelines of meetings in Riyadh, he said the country was a vitally important ally for Britain.