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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Geneva Abdul

New special envoy for Britons detained overseas warns of limits of role

Care Minister Alistair Burt, in glasses and a pink tie, looks toward the camera
Alistair Burt is a former Middle East Minister. Photograph: James Drew Turner/The Guardian

The special envoy for British citizens detained overseas has spoken about the difficulties he faces in his new role, as families express concern over the position’s mandate in complex consular cases.

In his first public engagement, Alistair Burt, the former Conservative Middle East minister, spoke candidly about the difficulties and limitations of the new appointment, made following years of mounting criticism of how the Foreign Office handled the cases of British citizens detained overseas.

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