SFO enquiry into £43bn Saudi arms deal

The High Court has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully by dropping a corruption inquiry into a £43bn Saudi arms deal.

In December 2006, the then Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, announced that the SFO was suspending its inquiry. Lord Goldsmith said its continuation would have caused "serious damage" to UK-Saudi relations and, in turn, threatened national security.


Everyone knows that this decision was taken so as to stop the Saudis cancelling a further deal with BAE to supply them with the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft as well as withdrawing diplomatic co-operation.

Maybe the case will now be re-opened or will the Labour government/SFO find another get-out clause?