A BOURNEMOUTH MP says quotes attributed to him over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record were inaccurately translated.

Tobias Ellwood has strongly rejected reports that he said people in Britain were unaware of the “notable progress” the Middle East country had made on human rights.

The former soldier, who is a foreign office minister as well as Bournemouth East's MP, was attributed with the remarks by several Saudi news outlets.

But Mr Ellwood told the Daily Echo he had been misquoted during a meeting with a Saudi human rights organisation, which used Google Translate to write a press release.

“It was completely out of context and goes against the grain of everything that I have been saying,” said Mr Ellwood.

“We have kept the pressure on [Saudi Arabia], we have forced the issue of the recent executions, the relationship with Iran and that of juveniles even being considered for the death penalty – and to encourage greater progress.

“Where I think this came up with the translation is that when they do make progress they need to show that they are doing this. They need to show the world and declare it.

“We must remember Saudi Arabia is a very conservative society and very new country. It came about in 1932. It took 800 years to develop our own society since the Magna Carta – so they are a very, very young country.

“Therefore the pace of change needs to be managed in order for that change to be peaceful and successful.

“But nevertheless it is the 21st century. We do believe that there are international standards of human rights and international laws that Saudi Arabia must assertively work towards.”

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it did not recognise the quotes attributed to Mr Ellwood in Saudi media.