Keir Starmer admitted he ‘regrets’ welcoming the release and return to Britain of an Anglo-Egyptian political activist after it emerged he was behind a series of anti-Semitic tweets.
The Prime Minister had said he was ‘delighted’ when Alaa abd el-Fattah was released by the Cairo government before Christmas.
But tweeted later resurfaced dating back to 2010 in which the activist appeared to call for violence against Zionists and the police.
It sparked calls for his UK citizenship, granted by Boris Johnson in 2021, to be revoked.
Downing Street described the posts as ‘abhorrent’ but said an apology issued by Mr El-Fattah was ‘fairly fulsome’.
Speaking to the BBC today Sir Keir said ‘of course I regret’ his original response, adding that he ‘wasn’t very happy’ that he had not been made aware of the historical posts, and had raised the issue with the appropriate team.
Repeatedly asked whether he would like to apologise, Sir Keir told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: ‘Of course I regret that, and your point that somebody in Government should have known is one I’ve made myself to the appropriate team, because I do think I should have been made aware, and I wasn’t made aware.
The Prime Minister had said he was ‘delighted’ when Alaa abd el-Fattah was released by the Cairo government before Christmas.
Downing Street described the posts as ‘abhorrent’ but said an apology issued by Mr El-Fattah was ‘fairly fulsome’.
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‘And that is why we are carrying out a review, but to meet your challenge, yes it’s a failing within the system.
‘It shouldn’t have happened, and I wasn’t very pleased about it when I found out, hence, we’re taking remedial action.’
Mr El-Fattah was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 under former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson.
His imprisonment for charges of spreading false news was branded a breach of international law by UN investigators, and he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September after years of lobbying by Conservative and Labour governments.
He flew to the UK on Boxing Day and was reunited with his son, who lives in Brighton.
Politicians, including the Prime Minister, welcomed his return before the resurfacing of tweets dating back to 2010 in which the activist appeared to call for violence against Zionists and the police.
The Conservatives and Reform UK have both suggested he should have his British citizenship stripped due to the posts, although it is understood there are no plans for this and the law does not appear to provide grounds to deport him.
