To think that the UK shouldn't be flying flags at half-mast because the Saudi king is dead?

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

This comes from the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Half-masting instructions
It is with great regret that we learn of the death of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, King of Saudi Arabia.

It is requested that all flags be half-masted from 8am today until 8pm this evening.

Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast. If a flag of a foreign nation is normally flown on the same stand as the Union Flag, it should be removed.

Local authorities are not bound by this request but may wish to follow it for guidance. Devolved administrations are responsible for issuing instructions for the flying of the Union Flag on buildings in their estate and others as necessary.

Not in my name, thanks! If Saudi Arabia didn't have all that oil we would be treating it as a rogue state. A state that can sentence a man to 1000 lashes for simply expressing an opinion isn't fit to be treated as a civilized country.

[MrsPeterQuill]

Yanbu

Their treatment of women and gay people is hardly exemplary either.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

Former prime minister Tony Blair said he admired King Abdullah greatly.

There's a red flag right there.

"Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future," Mr Blair said.

One step a century, eh?

[meditrina]

I thought it was normal when any heads of state die in office (which in practice often means monarchs as presidents get to retire). Not just ones we like.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

You may well be right, meditrina. I suppose it's just that I have no regard for Saudi Arabia. I would have no qualms at all about having flags at half-mast for a European monarch, I suppose.

[wobblyweebles]

It's not because they have 'all that oil' though is it?

[girliefriend]

YANBU Saudi human rights are non existent, woman still aren't allowed to drive afaik, several beheadings and stonings a month it is just awful.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

YANBU for their human rights records alone.

[FreudiansSlipper]

YANBU

Though he was seen to want to make changes Saudi ruling family supports Wahhabi clergy and ignores their terribly destructive influence

[QueQuesto]

I thought it was normal when any heads of state die in office (which in practice often means monarchs as presidents get to retire). Not just ones we like

Does it apply to all of them then, would we have to act like we cared if Kim Jong-Un popped his clogs?

[meglet]

I was wondering this too. What happens when other heads of state die?

[HedgehogsDontBite]

Like it or not Saudi Arabia is one of our allies and we have to keep them onside.

[BreakingDad77]

YANBU for tolerating and exporting wahabism.

He's this and previous governments friend for in addition to the oil, the planes BAE scandal, arms dealing, RAF air-bases etc.

[DoraGora]

Apparently the request came from Buckingham Palace. I'm glad I'm not an official, because my response would have been, if the palace wants to fly its flag that way, that's its affair. Ours stays where it is.

[SwedishEdith]

I heard this on the news and then thought the reported must be in SA so just meant there. Do we always fly flags at half-mast if a head of state dies? I've never know about it. Why?

[SwedishEdith]

reporter not reported

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

My goodness me, it's come to something when UKIP is able to take the moral high ground over another country's human rights record!

The Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said it was an “extraordinary misjudgment” in the light of the kingdom’s human rights record.

He's not the only one, though. The Guardian says MPs in the plural, which is cheering.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

I suppose I've never really noticed because if the death is a Queen NeverHeardTheNameBefore of a European country or a far away former UK colony, it just wouldn't register with me. I take it we didn't fly flags at half-mast for Hitler or Stalin or Saddam or Colonel Gaddafi.

[SwedishEdith]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-mast#United_Kingdom From wiki

I suppose it's only for states we consider to be allies. Don't like it.

[ghostland]

We need their oil so arse-licking it is.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

YANBU. Much as I loathe the Tories Ruth Davidson had it right in her tweet.

[SignoraStronza]

I don't get it either. I have many friends who are Saudi/British nationality and they are really upset and writing tributes on their Fb saying how loved their king was and how he has left a legacy of 'no chaos, no blood, no turmoil' I didn't like to ask how this fits with the lashings and beheadings that occur in their hometown, or the arming and funding of brutal groups like al quida and isis. I'd be really interested to know though, but it would probably have to wait for them to be back in the country over a bottle of wine and a few cigarettes.

[UncleT]

YANBU. I do not respect those who routinely allow the chopping off of limbs and other extreme and cruel physical punishments in their penal codes. The word for such conduct is barbaric, and this move to lower flags in this country is a total disgrace.

[UncleT]

Peculiar about Carswell condemning this - I thought Nige had already voiced strong support for showing the King this 'respect'?