Motion text
That this House recommends clarifying the guidance around consular assistance and enshrining in law the right to consular assistance at a time when thousands of British nationals are stranded overseas during the outbreak of covid-19; recognises that currently there is no legal right to consular assistance for British nationals including those who are stranded, imprisoned or who die overseas; further recognises the current guidance around who will qualify for consular assistance is based on discretion; notes that the guidance that assessments of vulnerability are made on the basis of ‘the needs you have, based on who you are, where you are and your situation’ is vague and confusing; further notes the work that has been undertaken to clarify this guidance by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance as detailed in its October 2019 report entitled Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done; notes the aims of the British Rights Abroad Group petitioning the Government to make consular assistance a clear legal right; acknowledges the detrimental effect on British nationals who learn in their hour of need that they are not legally entitled to consular assistance from the Government; further notes the millions of British people who are currently stranded around the world due to covid-19 who may or may not be assisted in getting home; and urges the Government to act now on enshrining a legal right to consular assistance.
Signatures (26)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Bardell, Hannah
Scottish National Party
Signed on
11 April 2020
Grady, Patrick
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
Dorans, Allan
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
Hendry, Drew
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
Cooper, Rosie
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Howarth, Sir George
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Daby, Janet
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Hollern, Kate
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Byrne, Ian
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Morris, Grahame
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Docherty-Hughes, Martin
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
McLaughlin, Anne
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 April 2020
Perkins, Mr Toby
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Corbyn, Jeremy
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Webbe, Claudia
Labour
Signed on
22 April 2020
Olney, Sarah
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
22 April 2020
Gibson, Patricia
Scottish National Party
Signed on
27 April 2020
Thewliss, Alison
Scottish National Party
Signed on
4 May 2020
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on
5 May 2020
Hanvey, Neale
Independent
Signed on
5 May 2020
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on
5 May 2020
Fovargue, Yvonne
Labour
Signed on
4 June 2020
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on
20 July 2020
Russell-Moyle, Lloyd
Labour
Signed on
15 September 2020
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.