THE Foreign Secretary mocked the SNP over “British passports” after being challenged on what the UK Government is doing to help its citizens who are arbitrarily detained abroad.
SNP MP Brendan O’Hara and Chris Law were visibly irked by the response from Labour’s David Lammy, with O’Hara repeating: “Pathetic.”
The moment came as Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, fielded questions on arbitrarily detained UK citizens abroad.
READ MORE: Kate Forbes: Labour National Insurance hike will dent economic growth
John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, had asked that Labour contact the Egyptian presidency over the imprisonment of human rights activist Aala Abdel Fattah and threaten economic sanctions if he is not released.
Fattah has been in Egyptian jail for more than five years – after his official sentence ended – over charges that Amnesty said amounts to “peacefully exercising his human rights”.
O’Hara then also raised Fattah’s case, saying that MPs had heard evidence from his mother on Tuesday morning.
The SNP MP went on: “An oft repeated concern is that if you are a UK national and you find yourself in this awful situation, you're essentially on your own when compared to other nationals.
“Does the minister recognise that depiction? And if he doesn't, what could he point to as being a unique advantage of having a British passport for someone who finds himself arbitrarily detained?”
In his response, Lammy said: “I recognise that the honourable gentleman has got some problem with having a British passport, but I haven't got a problem with having a British passport. I'm proud to be a citizen of this great country.”
READ MORE: 'Gaslighting a nation': Scottish Labour slammed over Winter Fuel Payment vote U-turn
Lammy then said that his Foreign Office has “some outstanding diplomats and officials,” before saying that while in opposition Labour had recognised there were “issues in this area”.
The case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scot detained in India for seven years without substantial evidence against him, has been raised directly with Lammy since Labour took power.
His brother, Gurpreet, a Labour councillor, met Lammy in Westminster last month and has gathered the support of other Labour MPs for the cause.
The UK Government said it was “committed to working for faster progress on Jagtar’s case”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel