The West has abandoned human rights

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman is in Britain, and the argument over the next few days is as predictable as a wet bank holiday. The left will point to the immorality of Saudi Arabia oppressing its own population and killing Yemeni civilians with, on occasion, arms made in Britain. The right will say that is rich coming from a movement led by Jeremy Corbyn, the supposed supporter of women’s, gay and trade union rights, who has taken the money and appeared on the propaganda channels of Iran, a country that oppresses all three and much else besides.

No one should yawn, however. Familiarity breeds ignorance as well as contempt. It blinds us to the reality that the old world where universal human rights were valued is no longer the world we inhabit. Today hardly anyone left or right believes in them. Human rights are simply truncheons to beat one’s opponents with.