Theresa May must use India trip to speak up for jailed ex-soldiers: Lord Beith

LONDON: Liberal Democrats peer Lord Beith today appealed to British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is currently on a bilateral visit to India, to use her trip to raise the plight of imprisoned UK veterans.

Six former soldiers have been held in an Indian jail in dire conditions whilst a string of appeals have been pending in Indian courts, Beith said.

They were all working on a ship offering protection to commercial shipping against pirates operating in the Indian Ocean and are appealing convictions for possession of illegal arms.

Beith said: "The Prime Minister has an opportunity this week to raise the issue personally at the highest levels in India, and she needs to do so. There have been significant delays in the justice system, which are unacceptable.

"An appeal hearing was scheduled for last week but this was postponed at the last minute."

He added that the men, including Nick Dunn from Ashington, were "working legally to protect ships from piracy but despite the evidence provided by the British government they have been kept in terrible conditions".

There are serious concerns about their physical and mental health, he said.

"The Prime Minister must demand that the appeal hearings are held without any further delay," he said.