The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, gets a hero's welcome on visits to London. The billions his Gulf statelet has poured into British property and the support for the nation's energy policy, through long-term gas contracts, appeared to have made his country immune to political criticism.
But as the excesses of the Islamic State have become increasingly clear, Britain's unqualified support for Qatar's rulers and its activities in the Middle East has begun to erode. Financial sanctions have already been imposed on a Qatari businessman allegedly funding al-Qaeda.
Qatar is a supporter of Hamas in Gaza and provided a home for its leader, Khaled Mashaal, who broadcast to the West from a luxury hotel during Operation Protective Edge.
But what is troubling the British foreign policy establishment now is the support by Qatari-based interests for the brutal Islamic State as it cuts a scythe through the region.
Britain has never been shy to use financial sanctions against rogue regimes. The assets of Gaddafi's Libya were frozen for years. Financial sanctions against Hezbollah-supporting Iran remain in place and in 2008 the UK froze the assets of Icelandic banks on the grounds of national security.
Despite this, and Qatar's sheltering of the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar has never felt the wrath of the government. It has even been given special treatment, including a ride in the Queen's carriage at Ascot, which it sponsored. Qatar denies supporting Islamic State claiming it only provides support to moderate groups. But intelligence sources have reported past financing and note Doha has links to the al-Nusfra front, an al-Qaeda affiliate. It also offered finance to ensure that Jerusalem becomes the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The gently, gently treatment relates to the role it has played in supporting the UK economy. At the time of the financial crisis it aided the Barclays bail out. It also came to the rescue of a number of big property projects, including The Shard in the City of London. It is a partner to the Ritblat family in the property and housing developments at the Olympic Park, owns the Chelsea Barracks site among many other prestige London investments.
If the UK is serious about isolating countries that support extremists that threaten Britain and those of our allies, it could demonstrate its determination by restricting the activities of the Qatar's sovereign wealth fund based in London. It could also freeze some existing assets. Britain has demonstrated it can do without Iranian oil, against which it led an embargo. It could also put an end to imports of liquid natural gas from the Gulf state that sits on an estimated 20 per cent of the world's gas reserves.
