In a word, yes. Very many Brits are deeply uncomfortable with the somewhat slavish attitude to the Saudi State of the Establishment, which goes to great lengths to keep within pages of the Saudi good books. There is an economic advantage of doing so. Saudi Arabia is a major customer for British goods and services and especially armaments, for which they are our biggest customer. Many thousands of jobs would be at risk if they took offence, then took their business elsewhere.
On the other hand there are serious questions about human rights and gender equality which trouble almost everybody. Then there are these wars across the middle east, in which we are embroiled (but should not be) which go on seemingly without end. There is talk of war crimes, but in truth the whole thing is a crime and we are to some extent a part of it. The world is now tired of these quarrels, based on differing interpretations of the same faith. Christians have had their fair share of this over the centuries and know that resolution is easier said than done. Nevertheless it is time to do something. So said Boris. The balloon went up in Downing Street.
But Boris need not worry. The old style of murmuring behind closed doors over issues which impinge upon the lives of millions under the general veil of good diplomacy, is maybe past its sell by date. The incoming president of the United States conducts diplomacy via Twitter. This is a racy new way of talking directly to the people.. The Prime Minister In Waiting in the UK (Boris’s ambitions are not dimmed, simply postponed) knows that very well. That is what all these so called gaffes are about. Because everybody agrees that while this is not quite the right way to express these things, they are the right things and something should be done about them. And, as always, they agree with Boris. May knows that. Her life is now driven by two Bs. Brexit and Boris. She can manage the first but not it appears, the second.