Starmer refuses to apologise for ‘delight’ over Egyptian activist’s arrival in UK | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly declined to apologise for saying he was “delighted” Alaa Abd El-Fattah had returned to the UK. The Prime Minister mentioned on Sunday that he had been unaware of “abhorrent” social media posts made by the activist.

The Labour chief mentioned “of course I regret” his authentic response, including that he “wasn’t very happy” that he had not been made conscious of the historic posts, and had raised the problem with the suitable workforce.

Repeatedly requested whether or not he wish to apologise, Sir Keir informed the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “Of course I regret that, and your point that somebody in Government should have known is one I’ve made myself to the appropriate team, because I do think I should have been made aware, and I wasn’t made aware.

“And that is why we are carrying out a review, but to meet your challenge, yes it’s a failing within the system.

“It shouldn’t have happened, and I wasn’t very pleased about it when I found out, hence, we’re taking remedial action.”

Mr El-Fattah was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 below former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson.

His imprisonment for costs of spreading false information was branded a breach of worldwide regulation by UN investigators, and he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September after years of lobbying by Conservative and Labour governments.

He flew to the UK on Boxing Day and was reunited along with his son, who lives in Brighton.

Politicians, together with the Prime Minister, welcomed his return earlier than the resurfacing of tweets courting again to 2010 wherein the activist appeared to name for violence towards Zionists and the police.

Downing Street has since described the posts as “abhorrent” however mentioned an apology issued by Mr El-Fattah earlier this week was “fairly fulsome”.

The Conservatives and Reform UK have each advised he ought to have his British citizenship stripped because of the posts, though it’s understood there are not any plans for this, and the regulation doesn’t seem to offer grounds to deport him.