KEIR Starmer flew to Qatar on a private jet to meet the nation’s leaders – despite previously saying he would refuse to visit the country due to its human rights record.
The Labour leader made a return trip to the Middle East nation while visiting Dubai for the COP28 climate conference, according to a declaration of financial interests.
That declaration shows the trip, on which he was joined by three staffers, cost £25,508.
A spokesperson for Labour said Starmer had been “pleased” to make the visit to Qatar – despite previously saying he would not go.
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During the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Starmer said he would refuse to visit the country due to its poor human rights record.
He was asked on LBC: "If England got to the World Cup Final in Qatar, would you go?"
Starmer replied: "No I wouldn't. I'd love to but I think that the human rights record is such that I wouldn't go and that'll be the position of the Labour party."
Reports said that 6500 migrant workers had died while building Qatar’s world cup stadium.
In 2022, Amnesty International said of Qatar’s human rights record: “Migrant workers including domestic workers continued to face a range of abuses, including wage theft, forced labour, exploitation and abuse despite reforms.
“Authorities repressed freedom of expression to silence critical voices.
“Women continued to face discrimination in law and practice and needed the permission of a male guardian to study, travel or marry. Laws continued to discriminate against LGBTI people, putting them at risk of arrest and torture.”
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Starmer has also faced criticism for accepting a trip on a private jet paid for by Qatar. He and other top Labour figures have previously been critical of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for use of private aircraft.
The Green Party of England and Wales said on social media: "Keir Starmer took a Qatar-funded private jet while at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. He and Rishi Sunak are two sides of the same coin."
A spokesperson for the Labour leader said: "Keir Starmer was pleased to accept an invitation from His Highness The Emir of Qatar.
“Their conversation focused on the current crisis in the Middle East."
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