Theresa May risks rows with Egyptian President as she says flight ban to Sharm El Sheikh must remain

THERESA May risked a diplomatic row Monday night by telling Egypt that a flight ban to Sharm El Sheikh must stay in place.

Hopes were raised that the popular tourist route would reopen after a terrorist attack three years ago.

2

Egypt’s President al-Sisi discussed the move with the PM during talks in the margins of the EU-Arab summit he hosted yesterday.

But Mrs May said: “In terms of our relationship with Egypt, it is strong in a number of areas.

“We are working together to address the shared challenges of terrorism.

“On the position of flights, our position is clear. The security of British nationals is our top priority.

“Of course we understand the importance of the issue for Egypt, and while we haven’t yet concluded that it’s right to lift the restriction on flights, we continue to keep that under review.”

All UK flights to beach resort Sharm El Sheikh were banned in November 2015.

MOST READ IN POLITICS

TRUCE CALL

Top Tory calls for Kemi Badenoch to end her war of words with Nigel Farage

TOP TRUMPS

Keir Starmer hopes to visit Donald Trump within a month of him taking office

CITY SLICKER

Labour insiders want Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden to be City Hall candidate

JAMES JOHNSON

Nigel Farage can become PM - but it will take him two or even three elections

It followed the bombing of a Russian airliner which killed all 224 people on board.

The Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack.

Sharm El Sheikh previously attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from the UK each year, making it an important resort for airlines and holiday companies.

2