When is she going to fire him? (Boris)

Surely May could take over from Johnson in this one case and talk to the Iranians as a leader and a woman.

"Boris Johnson’s Iran blunder continues to undermine his reputation, but today he has been thrown a political lifeline by Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of imprisoned British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratciffe. Showing a dignity and understanding that some Tory MPs believe our Foreign Secretary lacks, Ratcliffe told the BBC that he didn’t want Boris to be sacked – because he could do more good by actually now trying to get his wife released. They spoke last night for the first time (which is extraordinary in itself given how long she’s been jailed) and hope to meet face to face this week. In what could be a significant move, Boris told him Zaghari-Ratcliffe could be ‘eligible’ for ‘diplomatic protection’. If she is indeed protected, his political career could survive."

Why has it taken this long to realise?

"Keir Starmer told the Today programme that while Boris should have been fired a while ago, “we should all reflect on what Richard is saying this morning”. Professor Mads Andenas, a former UN special rapporteur on arbitrary detention, also told Today that Government ministers should “be consistent in not casting doubt on her story”. “From my point of view it looks like a cock-up. They haven’t taken the briefing notes seriously,” he said. In Brussels this morning, Boris said: “We are working very, very hard and intensively and impartially on all those cases”. Note the word ‘impartially’. "

Why impartially?
Does the man have no feelings?

durhamjen actually, T May ‘being a woman’ will not cut any ice with Iranians.

Gove is quite precise and measured ( with words) so I think it meant ( when asked by Marr ‘what was she doing in Iran’?)
He answered ‘I don’t know’ which must mean precisely that, he doesn’t know, which is an honest answer.

Impartially, probably means that no one case takes precedence over another, as there are several British citizens being held around the world.

There are several being held in Iran, not just around the world. Some have been held there for years; a grandfather, Kamal Foroughi, 77 years old has been there for seven years.

So suddenly Boris has discovered that he needs to work very hard and intensively to try and free these people.
The two families took a petition to the foreign office together a year ago.
What happened to that?

"Why impartially?
Does the man have no feelings?"

DJ - you use that phrase quite often, don't you? Are only your feelings valid?

I am sure the word impartially was used as a balm given the Iranian regime is not open to any sort of criticism. It could just be that he is trying (for a change) a bit of diplomacy?

Boris is not the entire FO!
Am sure that they are doing all they can for British citizens,
But look what they are up against in Iran.
Being emotional would not work in the interests of these prisoners.

Petitions do not work magic.

Sounds awful but apparently what works best in Iran (and many other countries) is knowing who to bribe and how much to pay them.

Back to BJ and his mooted 'unsackability', I wonder whether it's a case of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.

More that there is no one in charge. Johnson and Gove trying to stage a coup.

Blinko nobody is ‘unsackable’.

Nicky Morgan thinks he should go, suddenly makes you think maybe he isn't so bad doesn't it?? Not so much the lesser of two evils more which idiot do you want in charge!

I can't believe that he is so awful as Foreign Minister but there is still the possibility of him becoming PM at some point.

Sounds awful but apparently what works best in Iran (and many other countries) is knowing who to bribe and how much to pay them

I agree, Trisher. I imagine this horrible situation really has very little to do with BJ and everything to do with money.

Yes, it's been said many times that poor Nazanin will be used by the Iranians as a bargaining chip. She is a hostage in jail rather than an offender.

He has finally made a proper apology in the HoP.

How about us using the earthquake as a bargaining chip.
Send Nazanin and her daughter home, and we will send help.

www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/dear-boris-it-s-time-for-us-to-free-my-wife-nazanin-together-a3689466.html?utm_source=change_org&utm_medium=petition

1,018,000 signatures now

Lemons, nobody except BJ, it seems....

Looks as if you were absolutely spot on correct, trisher

BORIS' £450M CHEQUE Britain preparing to pay a long standing £450m debt to Iran that will help free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond authorise government lawyers to finally settle the 38 year-long dispute over a tank deal

www.thesun.co.uk/news/4923596/britain-450m-imprisoned-iran/

Well that answers the question about why they are holding her. Let's hope their negotiation for this is better than it is for Brexit as there are other people imprisoned too.

1,304,000+ signatures now.