A former British Ambassador, who can't be named has been quoted telling a secret meeting in parliament on the Middle East crisis, attended by religious leaders and politicians that: "we are not going to make Saudi Arabia an enemy, so get used to it".
The Foreign Office has said it has "no evidence" Saudi Arabian authorities are providing support to ISIL, however at a gathering of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Religious Freedom last Tuesday, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne MP admitted efforts were being made to prevent "individual citizens" from providing support to extremist groups by Britain's diplomats, who Mr Swayne said were engaged in behind closed door negotiations with state authorities in the region, but refused to reveal specifically which one(s).
At Tuesday's meeting, Syrian Anglican priest Nadim Nassar, director of the Awareness Foundation, a Christian advocacy organisation told Premier he recently witnessed the former British ambassador to Iraq make the claims at the previous gathering in the Palace of Westminister.
Speaking to Premier after last week's meeting, he said is was ludicrous to suggest private citizens were the only ones funding ISIL: "This is an insult for our intelligence because nobody in their right mind would think that only individuals are supporting such a huge terrorist organisation, so there are countries, there are billions behind it (ISIL); not some individuals.
But on Premier's 'News Hour on Monday Mr Swayne vehemently denied the accusations, he said:"I don't believe for one moment that Saudi Arabia is implicated in any such way. Saudis have made absolutely clear that they are part of this coalition to stamp out Isil ,which they regard as deeply embarrassing to their faith."
Although the funding claims have also been supported by former defence minister, Sir Gerald Howarth.
Sir Gerald admitted questions remained over who exactly was funding Islamic State, speaking to Premier, he said: "Private finance is being used, and possibly even in some cases governments are funding what we would call terrorist organisations".
However, the Conservative MP who was sacked by David Cameron as part of a reshuffle in 2012 said he currently wouldn't support a government name a shame policy, suggesting soft diplomacy was possibly the best strategy in the current climate, as Saudi Arabia remained a British ally in the region.
International Development Minister Desmond Swayne MP:
Nadim Nassar:
Sir Gerald Howarth:
