Tories must speak out against Erdogan

Responding to Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's state visit to the UK today, leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable, said: "The UK has a strong, proud history of democracy and human rights, but our reputation on the world stage is in danger of being eroded by this Conservative government’s desire to woo world leaders like Trump and Erdogan. “May’s administration appears to have substituted diplomacy for sycophancy in its pursuit of Brexit. “By permitting a state visit and audience with the Queen, May and Johnson are essentially rolling out the red carpet for a man with a disregard for human rights, who is responsible for alarming oppression and violence. “The government must stand with the Turkish people and use this visit to speak out against Erdogan’s unacceptable disregard for liberal, democratic values.”