Drakeford Unapologetic About Complimentary Qatar World Cup Accommodation
Welsh Government Officials Attend World Cup, Amidst Human Rights Concerns
In the midst of ongoing criticism over Qatar's human rights record, the Welsh government has sent its officials to the recently concluded World Cup tournament. Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, and Welsh Secretary David TC Davies were among the UK ministers who participated in the event.
During the tournament, both Drakeford and Davies claimed they raised human rights issues "at every possible opportunity" while in Qatar. However, no new information was provided about the concerns regarding potential threats to the Welsh government's stance on human rights.
Amnesty International has challenged ministers to show they raised human rights concerns during their stay in Qatar. Yet, there is no evidence or report confirming that either Drakeford or Davies accepted controversial hospitality from Qatar.
The Welsh government defends the trip, stating it provided an opportunity to promote Wales on the global stage and seek investment from Qatar. The government paid for flights, but Qatar covered the costs for the accommodations of both ministers and four officials. Drakeford stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, while Davies did not comment on whether he accepted a free luxury stay at the same hotel.
The hospitality plan has raised concerns about potential threats to the Welsh government's stance on human rights. Both ministers attended different games, each accompanied by two officials, with each trip lasting three nights.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer decided to stay away from the World Cup tournament. Qatar has been criticized for its treatment of LGBT people, women, and migrant workers, which has fueled calls for boycotts and protests.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson stated that details of the visit will be published in the common way. Drakeford stated he accepted the hospitality for safety and security reasons and could not attend conferences without it. Davies also stated the safety regime in Qatar required specific arrangements for physical access to the locations where he needed to be and the meetings he needed to attend.
In response to the concerns, Drakeford claimed he raised human rights issues "at every possible opportunity" while in Qatar. Yet, it remains unclear if UK ministers accepted the same hospitality package as Drakeford, or if Amnesty International commented on this matter.
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