2022 December 15

I joined colleagues from across both houses to sign a letter urging Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to condemn the sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, and to call for his release. A British citizen, Mr Lai has been sentenced for a total of 5 years and 9 months imprisonment. The charges relate to his running of the pro-democracy media organisation Apple Daily. Mr Lai faces further charges which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and sedition charges. His sentencing is appears to be politically motivated and an attempt to undermine the important work Mr Lai has undertaken to uphold democracy in Hong Kong.