I see the EU Remainers' PROJECT FEAR is alive and well.

Lazy because it’s pressing a button.Get out and protest if you want to do something or write to your MP.
I don’t believe e-petitions are effective in any serious cases.

When I read the head in sand nonsense posted by you lemongrove, and your refusal to even attempt to comprehend any other opinion other than your own, I truly despair. Do you truly have no interest in anything which you consider does not affect you? No thoughts of sympathy for the British citizens held in Iran or India? Or do you just believe all the lies and misinformation put out by the tax dodging newspaper owners? What do you suggest is done about the Irish borders? You seem to have all the answers, perhaps you could give us your opinion on this potentially dangerous situation?

Funny that Gill because I feel the same when I read yours or some others on the political threads.

The FO works behind the scenes to get British citizens out of perilous situations in other countries where it can, and I can and do, write to my MP about many things.
I don’t read newspapers, tax dodging or non tax dodging ones.
The Irish border question is not one that I or you, or anyone on GN can answer.
Any other questions?

The point about Nazanin and the chennai six is that the foreign office wasn't working behind the scenes. If it had been, Boris wouldn't have made the remark he did which put Nazanin in danger.
Yes, GillT, head in sands again.
As a matter of interest,lemon, where did you get the information from that the foreign office work behind the scenes?

durhamjen there are some cases of British citizens abroad where, no matter how the FO pushes for their release, very little can actually be achieved.In other cases they are successful.
If you really think that the FO does not do anything for British subjects, then it’s you that has her head in the sand.

I said they weren't with Nazanin and the chennai six.
Can you give me examples of who has been helped by the foreign office?
Kamal Foroughi is still in prison in Iran; 76 years old and he's been there for four years on trumped up charges.
Here's a copy of a letter sent to Boris in March.
Has your MP signed it?

freekamalforoughi.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/20170320-mps-and-peers-letter-final.pdf

Iran has a terrible record for trumped up charges, and the regime there do as they please.
If we pay a great deal of money to Iran ( that was theirs but was frozen after the Shah was toppled) then we may get a few citizens back again.....as for e-petitions, forget it!

'Chennai Six' found not guilty in India's Appeal Court

and your refusal to even attempt to comprehend any other opinion other than your own, I truly despair.

shakes head in disbelief at the irony of that statement

This does sound very familiar. It's the sort of work that many ex servicemen do because there is so much piracy around that isn't publicised. A few years ago went to a talk given by someone who works for the navy and resolved never to go on a Caribbean cruise [not that it's the sort of thing we'd do anyway].

So no examples of anyone helped by the foreign office, then, lemon?

It is not that the FO does not bother to work behind the scenes, it is that they are constrained by the laws of the country they are dealing with and whether we do have diplomatic relations with them.

There must be many examples but for various reasons they will not be publicised.
Did you work for the FO djen that you have knowledge of their failure to help British citizens abroad?

Can you give me examples of who has been helped by the foreign office?

It's like being at school and being asked to give your answers on lined paper and leave a 1" margin at the side!

No cheating or passing notes around the classroom!

Perhaps a link might be helpful:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/helping-british-people-overseas-travelling-and-living-abroad

I would not have thought the Foreign Office needed apologists but it appear they have some on here. Shining a light on exactly what is happening seems to be the way we prefer these days rather than what use to be the case of assuming our 'betters' know what they are doing and are doing it in the best interests of citizens rather than or themselves.

The idea that a Foreign Office, led by Boris, can be trusted to look after citizens rather than put the government's (notice I do not say Parliament's) interest first beggars belief. To put someone who is basically a social misfit (in other cultures as well as our own) who went to a 'good school' gives me no confidence whatsoever although it appears to imbue some on here with the feeling that we do not need to ask any questions of the department.

I think some people believe all “foreign”governments to be untrustworthy, money-grabbing, corrupt, whereas the U.K. government is trustworthy, spends money wisely and should never be questioned.

The real work of the FO goes on very well with or without Boris, or whoever is the minister at the helm at that particular time.
It wouldn’t be any e-petitions that swayed the Indian courts but dialogue, over the years from the government.It may have helped the case that we are considering more trade and links with India after we leave the EU.
Diplomacy only goes so far but money speaks volumes.

Some governments more than others suzied !

I won’t even consider answering silly questions about ‘show examples of who the FO has helped’ it’s beyond ridiculous, and you will have to do your own homework on that.
All governments do what they can to help their own nationals abroad, or do you think that all other governments do, but not the British one?

Well, lemongrove, you will be pleased to know that the only way India will do more trade with the UK is if we allow more Indians to come to the UK.

Jalima, you are asking the wrong person. It's lemon who seems to know all about the foreign office, although she is not able to give examples.
Giving government links is no help, either. Foreign office hasn't helped in the cases I have mentioned.

You have no clue durhamjen as to what went on, and the government say they have been doing all they can for the Chennai six and their families.
What ( if anything) have you got against the British FO, because there must be something for you to go on in this way, it’s perplexing.