David Lammy, the foreign secretary, vowed in opposition to appoint a special envoy to help secure the freedom of those detained for years without a fair trial. Giving British citizens in trouble overseas a legal right to consular access was also a Labour manifesto pledge. But there are fears that pushback against the envoy plan in particular is being mounted by senior UK diplomats who fear it would cut across relationships with countries and affect trade deals, the Guardian has been told.
Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years, said: "My personal worry is that Lammy will miss the opportunity to change this and the special envoy will be stalled by civil servants until he leaves office. I saw it happen too often with previous foreign secretaries. Helpful initiatives get delayed.
Ending individual injustices get deflected. There is little action, lots of 'yes, minister'." Lammy's office said he had not shelved the plans, with meetings under way inside the department on the practical details of the envoy and right to consular assistance.
But Alicia Kearns, former chair of the foreign affairs select committee, who set up an all-party parliamentary group on the issue, said she had never seen such resistance to a proposal from within the department.
Denne historien er fra November 25, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 25, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Keep pledge on Britons held abroad, Lammy told
Families of prominent British prisoners detained abroad have urged the foreign secretary to deliver on pledges to help secure their release amid signs of growing resistance from diplomats.
Online brutality How grim genre is affecting young people
It took about 90 seconds for Rianna Montaque to see violence on her X account: a fight in a restaurant that escalated into a full-on brawl with chairs smashed over heads as bodies went sprawling.
Sleightholme soars as England end series on high
A disappointing calendar year for England has at least ended with a flurry of nine tries and a healthier looking outcome.
'We are going to suffer' Amorim warns United after fast start fizzles out
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to \"suffer for a long period\" before their fortunes turn after his first game in charge ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Ipswich.
Leicester sack Cooper after five months in charge
Leicester City sacked Steve Cooper as manager yesterday after just five months in charge.
Guardiola admits he must 'find a way' to win again
Pep Guardiola is defiant that he will end Manchester City's five-match losing sequence, with the manager stating it is \"my responsibility\" to do so.
This joyless incoherence will utterly destroy any illusions
Amorim already knows the scale of the job. And the scale is: really very big indeed
Amorim gets taste of reality as Ipswich rally
It was plainly too good to be true. Or to last. There were 82 seconds on the stadium clock when the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United was jumpstarted.
Dibling lights up bewildering day when goals were low points
For all that most people would have considered the result an inevitability, there was little that was predictable about this game.
Steady Slot 'We're definitely not getting carried away'
Arne Slot insisted Liverpool will not get carried away after soaring eight points clear of Manchester City, warning his players that Arsenal surrendered the same advantage last year.
