Starmer welcoming someone

All I can say is pass the sick bucket. If it is true, of course.

It took twitter about 30 seconds to find his tweets.

Gransnet presents conundrums. On one thread we have people saying we shouldn’t go to Egypt because it’s a military dictatorship, and on another, this.

Which begs the question Galaxy how come Starmer didn't know .

I assume his comments would fall within the hate speech laws. I see there is growing campaign to report him.

Just when you think things cannot get any worse…

I'm really shocked! I've only just read the link, the comments should absolutely fall within the hate speech laws. I do hope two tier justice isn't going to rear its ugly head again, apropos of what he obviously thinks he can get away with.

Galaxy

It took twitter about 30 seconds to find his tweets.

Extraordinary that no-one managed to find them when the tory government was pressing for his release.

The tories wanted him back as well?

[I have never been in the camp of, two wrongs make a right].

Priti Patel has a good deal to answer for.

MaizieD

Galaxy

It took twitter about 30 seconds to find his tweets.

Extraordinary that no-one managed to find them when the tory government was pressing for his release.

Really don’t care who wanted him back.

His tweets are foul, people have been imprisoned for less controversial social media posts 🤦‍♀️

I dont think I have read such bad ones for quite some time.

Though I presume people can find them if they look hard enough.

This will make Badenoch’s next PMQs a challenge - both the Conservatives and Labour love betraying this country. Hopefully Reform UK will get a question.

Extraordinary that no-one managed to find them when the tory government was pressing for his release.

Yes I too am surprised. Very.
I am not quite sure what you are insinuating

Thanks for the link TerriBull which I had not seen as I am not a generally a Daily Mail reader.

I noted that Nigel Farage said in the DM article " No mention of these tweets in The BBC News story either". So I went and checked The BBC News article online, and he was wrong- The BBC did in fact mention the tweets ( so fake news from Mr Farage....). The BBC article provided more factual background giving context as follows.

Mr Fattah spent 12 years in prison in Egypt as a political prisoner on charges of "spreading fake news" after sharing Facebook posts about torture in Egyptian prisons. The UN investigated and found his conviction a breach of international law. Whilst in prison Fattah was nominated in 2014 for a European Human Rights award but that was withdrawn over tweets he had made about Israel previously posted in 2012.

Fattah was released from prison in September this year after a presidential pardon and recently has returned to the UK to be reunited with his mother and son.

The previous Conservative Government, of which Badenoch and Jenryk were members, lobbied long and hard for Fattah's release. The former Conservative Prime minster, Sir Ian Duncum Smith, signed a CROSS PARTY petition in December 2024, urging the Labour government to continue efforts to secure Fattah's release. Both Jenryk and Badenoch failed to mention their Conservative government's efforts to secure Fattah's release in the DM article.

Only today 28 December, a day AFTER yesterdays DM article, has Ian Duncan Smith issued a statement:" I do however regret signing the letter calling for the release of Alaa And el-Fattah given his views have SINCE come to light...".

The DM article also sought a quote from Nigel Farage on the matter. He promptly took the opportunity to undermine the current government for supporting someone who tweets race hate. Farage also sought to undermine the BBC (falsely it has to be said) for failing to mention the historical tweets. Farage also failed to mention his knowledge of previous CROSS PARTY December 2024 petition urging Starmer to continue lobbying for Fattah's release following on from the Conservative Government's efforts to date.

The previous Conservative government said at the time Fattah " is a British citizen. It has been our long standing priority to secure his release". The Conservation campaign for his release was supported by many celebrities, including Judi Dench and Olivia Coleman.

It is of interest that Farage gave centre stage to Lucy Connelly at his recent Reform UK conference after she was released from prison after pleading guilty to inciting race hate on line. Farage said she should not have been put in prison for race hate posts- he is an avid supporter of free speech. POT- Kettle comes to mind?

According to The BBC, Keith Starmer was not aware of the 2012 historical tweets when he made his comments- seemingly it appears neither was Ian Duncan Smith, Robert Jenryk, Badenoch or Farage until past few days.....

Will the DM report any further facts on the matter now The BBC has unearthed more facts and background context? Or will it choose instead to let the story stand for its readers?

From the Telegraph:

“ The Prime Minister is understood to consider the content of Mr el-Fattah’s posts to be “abhorrent”.

Mr el-Fattah, who labelled British people “dogs and monkeys” and called for Zionists to be killed, arrived from Egypt on Friday evening after a travel ban imposed by Cairo was lifted following lobbying by ministers.

The Telegraph can now reveal the extent to which Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, was involved in efforts to secure the arrival of Mr el-Fattah, who was jailed in Egypt in 2019 and then banned from leaving the country after his release in September.

The Conservatives also backed his release while in office, though on Sunday Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, said he regretted his support and called on the police to investigate Mr el-Fattah’s comments.

On Saturday, Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, demanded that Sir Keir clarify whether he supported Mr el-Fattah’s views or “was just ignorant”.

Thank goodness some newspapers tell the fuller story here.

Thank you LemonJam. Too many people jump on bandwagons before knowing the facts, and I’m glad you took the time to establish what they are.

Casdon

Thank you LemonJam. Too many people jump on bandwagons before knowing the facts, and I’m glad you took the time to establish what they are.

Whatever the background story of this man is, it does not in anyway excuse his previous tweets and/or social media posts.

He should be back here as he is a U.K. citizen, not something to be congratulated for.

He also should have his social media history investigated.

He should be back here as he is a U.K. citizen, not something to be congratulated for.

Do you mean shouldnt? Or should?

GrannyGravy13

Casdon

Thank you LemonJam. Too many people jump on bandwagons before knowing the facts, and I’m glad you took the time to establish what they are.

Whatever the background story of this man is, it does not in anyway excuse his previous tweets and/or social media posts.

He should be back here as he is a U.K. citizen, not something to be congratulated for.

He also should have his social media history investigated.

I agree. Establishing the facts first is always most important though.

fancythat

^He should be back here as he is a U.K. citizen, not something to be congratulated for.^

Do you mean shouldnt? Or should?

I posted should and meant should

I think I am a shouldnt.
Though that might be a subject for another time.

And why would he want him back?

The Telegraph can now reveal the extent to which Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, was involved in efforts to secure the arrival of Mr el-Fattah, who was jailed in Egypt in 2019 and then banned from leaving the country after his release in September.