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BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
British couple detained in Iran unhurt by Israeli prison bombing
The UK government has been urged to prioritise securing the release of a British couple detained in and Lindsay Foreman, both 52 and from East Sussex, have been charged with espionage, which they deny, after being arrested in Iran while on a round-the-world trip in Wednesday a cross-parliamentary group confirmed the couple had not been harmed in Israeli strikes last month and renewed calls for the UK government to resolve the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it is "deeply concerned" at the situation and is providing Mr and Mrs Foreman with consular assistance. In a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs (APPG) said just three "welfare visits" had been able to take place since the couple were detained by Iranian authorities - the last being in month, Israel bombed various targets across Tehran, including Evin Prison, saying it was hitting "regime targets and agencies of government repression".The APPG said Mr and Mrs Foreman's family were relieved to now learn the couple were still being kept in prison in Kerman "and not ultimately transferred to Evin Prison" before the bombings. The group said it believed Iran was holding Mr and Mrs Foreman to use as political leverage."They are innocent British nationals falsely accused of espionage and held hostage," it said."Mistakes made in past cases, including the cases of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, must be learnt from."More must be done to work with other countries whose foreign nationals remain in arbitrary detention in Iran, to ensure all possible solutions are being considered."The APPG said the government must also focus on supporting Mr and Mrs Foreman's family."We are concerned by reports that there has been inadequate communication with the family in the past six months of their detention, especially while they were possibly implicated in the bombing of Evin Prison," the group FCDO said it is in contact with the relevant Iranian authorities and that the welfare of British nationals detained in Iran "remains a priority"."We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran," a spokesperson said."We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities. We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members."The FCDO advises against travel to Iran for British and British-Iranian nationals.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MP Neil Shastri-Hurst under investigation
A West Midlands MP has been placed under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Shastri-Hurst, Conservative MP for Solihull West and Shirley, will be investigated in his capacity as chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Defence Technology. The matter relates to due diligence of funding provided to the group's secretariat. A spokesperson for Shastri-Hurst said strict confidentiality requirements applied while the process was ongoing. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt, UK lawmakers discuss diaspora-driven investment
Listen to article Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan at the House of Commons on Tuesday. According to an official statement, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties, enhancing parliamentary cooperation, and tapping into the potential of the 1.7 million-strong British Pakistani diaspora to boost trade and investment. The minister briefed APPG members on Pakistan's recent economic reforms aimed at promoting macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth. He highlighted key initiatives such as tariff rationalisation under the National Tariff Policy, the launch of the Pakistan Single Window to facilitate trade, and the development of Special Economic Zones offering incentives to foreign investors. The two sides also discussed collaboration opportunities in green technologies, renewable energy, and Pakistan's growing IT sector. These areas were identified as key to positioning Pakistan as a competitive hub for UK firms seeking to diversify their supply chains. Minister Jam Kamal emphasised the diaspora's role in connecting both nations and urged continued parliamentary engagement and private sector cooperation to maintain momentum following the UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue Mechanism signed earlier that day. The meeting reaffirmed a joint commitment to sustainable partnerships for mutual prosperity. Later in the day, the commerce minister also met Mohammad Yasin MP, the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Pakistan, at the House of Commons. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, also attended the meeting. The minister congratulated Yasin on his appointment and appreciated his successful visit to Pakistan in June 2025, which helped lay the foundation for stronger economic cooperation. Both sides agreed on the need to deepen trade and investment ties by leveraging historical connections and the recently launched UK-Pakistan Trade and Investment Dialogue. Jam Kamal underscored the importance of the Dialogue in tackling market access issues, promoting investment, and increasing trade under the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The minister also welcomed the formation of the UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council (UKPBAC) and urged better coordination between diaspora entrepreneurs and chambers of commerce. Opportunities for collaboration were noted in key sectors including renewable energy, ICT, agriculture, and higher education. Both sides committed to boosting parliamentary links and exploring regular exchanges to advance political and economic relations.
The National
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Arms dealers lobbying our MPs should be ringing alarm bells
Mr Kane typifies the careerist apparatchiks who are prevalent in the major political UK parties nowadays, politicians for whom labels or ethics are inconsequential providing that their profile, pockets or ambitions are enhanced by membership of groups like the APPG irrespective of their righteousness or lack of virtue. READ MORE: Probe launched after MPs accept cash from Israeli arms firm It appears that at least 37 arms firms have allegedly sponsored this parliamentary group, some of which have been directly involved in supplying parts to F-35 fighter jets and targeting systems to the Israeli government to bomb the people of Gaza. Any of these companies can allegedly gain access to networking with group members of the APPG for just £1499, a paltry sum which allows multinational arms dealers to lobby individual MPs and this cross-party group itself, a set of particularly sinister circumstances that should ring alarm bells in any democratic framework. The fact that the UK Government continues to supply technology and weapons parts to the genocidal government of Israel at a time when Netanyahu's administration is plainly guilty of serious war crimes is both amoral and utterly heartless. To learn that my own MP is part of a group that acts as enablers to arms companies is disturbing enough, but when we consider the part these companies continue to play in the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, his participation is distressing and, quite frankly, deplorable. Not in my name, Mr Kane, not now, not ever. Owen Kelly Stirling REGARDING the seriously bloated piece from Mark Brown and his intention to join the new British radical left party led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, of more concern to me is that The National deemed it worthy of a page and a half (Why I plan to join Scotland's new radical left party, Jul 11). Firstly, to Mr Brown's lengthy list of supporters, I was left slightly disappointed that the whole thing didn't end with a rousing rendition of Old Uncle Tom Cobley and All. Unfortunately the list was slightly top-heavy with trade union officials and 'activists', and over the last few years I have concluded most of these are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. READ MORE: Explosive new poll puts Corbyn-Sultana party level with Labour Mr Brown of course gave a few obligatory kicks in the passing to the SNP, which was formed in 1934 and has, he claimed, 'never so much as broken a window in the cause of independence'. How the hell does he know? I would point out the wee matter of the Stone of Destiny, removed from Westminster Abbey by a group of young nationalists, supported by the SNP, and I believe some funding from the top of the party. So beat that, is all I can say to Mr Brown, the next time he contemplates going out to break a window in the cause of socialism. I will close by recalling Glasgow's annual Celtic Connections extravaganza, which was reviewed in the Sunday National on February 2 by Mr Brown. I refer to him taking exception to John Swinney being invited by the organisers to recite a poem by the Bard at the Burns Supper event in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. READ MORE: Polling on Jeremy Corbyn party is uncertain. Labour's worries are not According to Mr Brown, the leader of Scotland's largest party, and also First Minister, was a curious and 'divisive' choice. However, for several years now I have noted that 'divisive' is a popular derogatory term much loved by generally aged Tory politicians to describe the SNP. That said, it may come as a surprise to some interested in this new radical party that one of their number, Mark Brown, supports all the radical aims outlined in his columnar manifesto of July 11, but with one proviso, ie all this seismic societal revolution and upheaval must be carried out with no 'divisive' behaviour, as Mark is uneasy about divisiveness. Spooks the markets, you see. Malcolm Cordell Broughty Ferry CRAIG Dalzell is broadly right (Could Scotland lead on the rich paying more tax?, Jul 14). To the extent that individual wealth is unearned (mainly through profit from public infrastructure investments), it should no longer be trousered by 'rent-seekers' but fully recovered, with a corresponding cut in taxes on working people. Yet substantial wealth can also result from work and prudent, non-exploitative investment of savings. The state should respect our natural right to the full product of our labour, as enshrined in Old Labour's Clause 4 (but tellingly removed by Blair and Broon). George Morton Rosyth
The National
15-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Probe launched after MPs accept cash from Israeli arms firm
The National previously told how the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology – a cross-party group of MPs – took at least £1499 from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd, a weapons firm which is owned by the Israeli government. RUK Advanced Systems Ltd makes missiles for urban warfare, and is part of Israel's state-owned defence giant, Rafael. READ MORE: Arms firms are buying exclusive access to MPs for as little as £1499 It is against parliamentary rules for APPGs to "accept the services of a secretariat funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government". On Monday, Declassified UK reported that the parliamentary standards commissioner has now launched an official investigation into "due diligence of funding". It is understood that one of the APPG's co-chairs, Conservative MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, referred the case himself after being contacted by Declassified UK. Shastri-Hurst is a practicing barrister and currently sits on Westminster's Standards Committee. When the donation was first reported by Declassified UK, neither the APPG nor any of the MPs involved in the group responded to a request for comment. However, the outlet reported that RUK Advanced System Ltd's name was immediately removed from the group's website. The firm also appeared to delete its website, which remains offline at the time of writing. While RUK Advanced System Ltd describes itself as a "UK company", it is controlled by the Israeli government's ministry of finance, which is led by far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the UK Government last month for inciting "extremist violence" against Palestinians. The firm's corporate structure has since been changed on Companies House, although it remains under the control of the Israeli government. READ MORE: 'Unacceptable': SNP hit out as Labour 'keep Tory-era veto on Scottish laws' The defence APPG was created in January and has already been sponsored by at least 37 arms firms, including industry titans Leonardo and Lockheed Martin. Leonardo, which has a factory in Edinburgh, is known to have produced targeting systems for Israel's F-35 fighter jets, which have been used to bombard Gaza. Lockheed Martin – the world's largest arms company – also contributes parts to F-35 fighter jets. There are 30 MPs involved in the APPG, five of whom are from Scottish Labour: Gordon McKee (Glasgow South), Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar), Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudon), Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) and Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan). Other MPs on the group include Fred Thomas (co-chair), Sarah Bool (officer), Anna Gelderd (officer), Luke Akehurst and Iain Duncan Smith.
