LONDON // Prince Andrew’s role as the United Kingdom’s international trade ambassador came under attack yesterday after the latest release of leaked US diplomatic cables.
In an expletive-laced outburst, the Queen’s second son reportedly criticised France and America, and branded as “idiocy” a British anti-corruption investigation into an arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
The prince, who also has the title of Duke of York, was described as being cocky about British influence in central Asia and “verged on the rude” as he discussed trade with British and Canadian businessmen over brunch during a trip to Kyrgyzstan in 2008.
The report from the US ambassador, Tatiana Gfoeller,was among the latest documents to be revealed by WikiLeaks, which also disclosed yesterday that, when Gordon Brown was prime minister, he had unsuccessfully pleaded with the administration of President Barack Obama that Gary McKinnon – a British computer hacker whom the Americans are trying to extradite for hacking into the Pentagon – be allowed to serve any sentence in the UK.
In what was described as “a humiliating diplomatic rebuff” by The Guardian – one of five Western newspapers given early access to the leaked documents – Washington flatly rejected Mr Brown’s call.
But it was Prince Andrew’s behaviour at the brunch in Bishkek attended by Ms Gfoeller that caused most eyebrows in Britain to be raised.
According to her summary to Washington, the ambassador described the prince as being “astonishingly candid – the discussion at times verged on the rude [from the British side]”.
She said Prince Andrew vehemently attacked the Serious Fraud Office investigation – which then-prime minister Tony Blair later ordered to be closed – into alleged kickbacks surrounding related to BAE Systems’ multi-billion dollar Al-Yamama arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
“He then went on to ‘these ***** journalists, especially from The Guardian, who poke their noses everywhere’ and [presumably] make it harder for British businessmen to do business. The crowd practically clapped.”
Later, he described both US and British governments as being “stupid” for basing business strategies on the next 10 years, while Asian countries were thinking in terms of centuries.
The ambassador also said the prince had said that he was not surprised that US investment in Kyrgyzstan was no greater than Britain’s, saying: “The Americans don’t understand geography. Never have.”
Buckingham Palace yesterday declined to comment on the report, but the Labour MP John Mann told the BBC that the prince might have to reconsider his unpaid position as trade ambassador. “If these comments by Prince Andrew are accurate – and of course we don’t know that yet – then clearly it’s of public interest that they are out there, so that he can judge whether he is performing the role well and government can make that judgment as well,” he said.
“Prince Andrew will need to think through if he is actually carrying out this role to the best of his abilities.”
The former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said that, while the prince’s comments had been “very unwise”, they should not affect his job as trade envoy.
dsapsted@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
More coverage from the Future Forum
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
