Mr McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, said: “I thank the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary for their efforts to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, the human rights campaigner, the British human rights campaigner, who has been imprisoned in Egypt now for over 10 years.
In the Commons, independent MP John McDonnell urged Sir Keir Starmer to contact Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in order to “save” Mr Abd El-Fattah and his mother’s life.
“Could I ask the Prime Minister to pick up the phone to President Sisi and seek the release of Alaa to save his life, also that of his mother’s?”.
Sir Keir said he would do everything he can to ensure Mr Abd El-Fattah’s release, during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“The Prime Minister will know, because he’s met the family, that his mother is on the 150th day of her hunger strike, and her health is failing rapidly.
