Downing Street welcome for Bahrain’s brutal dictator

David Cameron met King Hamad bin Essa Al Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain, at Downing Street on Monday.

The king claimed he wanted advice on reforming the police and judiciary in the repressive Gulf state.

This comes only weeks after a report concluded that Bahraini police used excessive force against demonstrators during protests against the regime in February and March this year.

At least 35 protesters died.

Britain has obliged by sending John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to Bahrain.

Yates has time on his hands. He resigned from the Metropolitan Police earlier this year following his involvement in the phone hacking scandal.