"I Refused Saudi Aviation Bribes"

"London Mayoral candidate, Cllr Alan Craig of the Christian Peoples
Alliance party, says he will act to restore trust in London as a centre of
business probity, having himself rejected the use of bribes to win an
aviation deal in Saudi Arabia. The former business leader is reacting to
continuing international concerns over the decision of Britain's
anti-fraud agency to drop a corruption inquiry into an arms deal between
Saudi Arabia and BAE Systems. A two-day hearing at the High Court
ended last Friday on a judicial review brought by the Campaign Against
the Arms Trade and anti-corruption group Corner House.

Councillor Craig is running for Mayor on The Christian Choice ticket.
He said:

"When managing director of a company bidding to manufacture and
supply a huge quantity of aircraft lifting equipment to Saudi Arabia airports,
I became aware that our agents - like most agents in Saudi - were
promising to pay large "commissions" to members of the royal family
and their associates. So, I insisted my company pulled out of the bid,
putting at risk our large bid-bond. Bribery is contrary to my Christian code."

The decision to drop the BAE investigation has been condemned by the
anti-bribery watchdog, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD). The House of Commons Select
Committee on Foreign Affairs also warned that the decision to abandon
the long-running investigation into the al Yamamah deal may have
caused "severe damage" to Britain's reputation.

Alan Craig concluded:

"As a result of Labour's foolish decision to stop the inquiry by the
Fraud Office, Britain - and especially London - has been put at risk of losing
its international reputation as a trusted centre of international business.
As Mayor I will act to restore openness, transparency and trust in all
business dealings made through London."

Allegations of corruption have dogged the £43 billion oil-for-arms deal,
with BAE accused of running a $100 million slush fund to entertain Saudi
royals and rumours of backhanders to middlemen and officials.

BAE systems is under formal investigation by the US Department of
Justice (DoJ) into allegations of corruption. BAE gets 43 per cent of its
business from the US and, if it is found guilty, the company could face
enormous fines or be barred from winning new US defence contracts. "

So says the press release. We all know Saudi is corrupt. Blair coverd it up. So much for his Christian ethics.