Newcastle Council leader Nick Kemp denies Saudi human rights concerns have been ‘swept under the carpet’

Newcastle’s council leader has denied the city has tried to sweep human rights concerns “under the carpet” due to its links with Saudi Arabia.

City leaders have come under pressure from humanitarian campaigners over Tyneside’s ties to the Gulf nation since the takeover of Newcastle United, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. In May, emails obtained by the NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing group revealed efforts by senior civic centre directors to secure cash and stronger ties with the Middle Eastern nation, whose regime has been accused of having a “terrible human rights record”.

It came on the same day that a Newcastle delegation launched the city as a “gateway to Saudi Arabia” on a major UK trade mission to Riyadh. Asked at a Newcastle City Council meeting on Wednesday whether enough was being done to raise concerns from Magpies fans about human rights abuses, the city’s Labour leader Nick Kemp responded that Newcastle prides itself on being a “diverse, inclusive and tolerant city” and expects all organisations within the city to share those values.

Amnesty International warned in May that “when it comes to attracting Saudi money, there is no such thing as a free lunch” and that the council seeking investment could “distract attention” from human rights abuses. Councillor Kemp said he had concerns about human rights abuses around the world and would “never condone or seek to defend cases where human rights have been violated”, but repeated the authority’s position that it was “not fair to blame those involved in the day-to-day running” of St James’ Park.

The Byker councillor, speaking just hours after news emerged of the imminent departure of Newcastle United co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, added: “Nor has this administration at any stage attempted to sweep these concerns under the carpet. As we have made clear in the past, it is important to recognise that it is up to the government to take on the role of addressing human rights abuses at a national level.

“The newly elected Prime Minister has made it clear recently that his government does not want to delay international investment in football. He has also made it clear that it would be the role of a new independent regulator to examine the ownership of football clubs.

“That is not the role of this administration. We have a long-standing relationship with Newcastle United, St James’ Park is the beating heart of the city. I am sure everyone in this chamber will agree that the football club is a source of immense pride for our residents. The club makes a huge contribution both on and off the pitch and a successful Newcastle United can only be a good thing for our residents and our city.”

His predecessor Nick Forbes said after the NUFC takeover that he had asked the new owners “to open a dialogue with fans” about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record to “ensure that the values ​​of the club and what the club is seeking to achieve are aligned with the values ​​of the city”. Councillor Kemp added on Wednesday that he would “make no apologies” for pushing the football club to pay more than £23m to fund free school meals, another revelation from the cache of emails, and said Newcastle was not alone in seeking international investment that would “put money in residents’ pockets”.

Lib Dem opposition leader Colin Ferguson, who put the question to Councillor Kemp, accused leaders in Manchester of “casting a credulous eye at best” on Abu Dhabi’s investment following the Manchester City takeover and asked whether Newcastle would pay “much more attention”. Councillor Kemp replied that he could not comment on events in Manchester, but that Newcastle had “a vision of investment in the city based on integrity and that we will take our duties and responsibilities to ensure appropriate investment in the city as a priority”.