Jardine’s Bill to improve access to British consulates returns to Parliament

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has today re-introduced her Bill to give every British citizen a legal right to support from a British consulate.

The Consular Assistance Bill would provide a legal right for consular assistance for those who have been victims of human rights abuses and false detention.

The Liberal Democrat was inspired to introduce the Bill following a discussion with Richard Ratcliffe, whose campaign to free is wife Nazanin from detention in Iran she had supported.

Other similar injustices suffered by people like journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza in Russia, who has been sentenced to twenty-five years in prison for criticising Putin’s war in Ukraine, and Jagtar Singh Johal, currently in his seventh year of detention without trial in India, could be addressed by the Bill.

Ms Jardine recently led a debate in parliament to raise these cases and other concerns with the slow response to consular services, during which she secured a commitment from the Labour Party to introduce her proposals if they win the next General Election.

The bill will now return to parliament for a debate in June.

Christine Jardine said:

“I was stunned to learn that getting support from our government if you are wrongly detained is entirely at the discretion of the local consulate, and there is currently no way of guaranteeing protections like legal representation, medical support and basic human rights.

“Too many British families whose relatives have been detained without trial have to fight their cases themselves to win support from the Foreign Office support. This is simply not good enough.

“It is vital that we introduce a guaranteed mechanism, ensuring UK Government assistance for any British citizen who faces human rights abuses abroad.

“I hope the Government will allow my Bill to progress, and send a clear signal to vulnerable British citizens around the world that their Government will stand up for them.”