I have written this post as it concerns me, being a resident in Norfolk, United Kingdom. I was shocked and horrified when I discovered that our local MP advocated for the return of the Egyptian dissident.

The role of a Member of Parliament often stretches beyond constituency surgeries and local roads. At times, they engage with international human rights crises. This was the case for the current North Norfolk MP Steffan (Steff) Aquarone, whose active parliamentary campaign for the imprisoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah drew extreme criticism, including pointed questions from within his own constituency about his priorities.

Who is Steff Aquarone?

Steffan "Steff" Aquarone is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Norfolk since the December 2019 general election. During his tenure, he has developed a parliamentary record that combines constituency work with active engagement on specific national and international issues.

A clear example of this is his documented, cross-party campaign in late 2022, where he worked to pressure the UK government to secure the release of the imprisoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah. As part of this effort, Aquarone co-sponsored Early Day Motion 619 and directly challenged Foreign Office ministers in Parliament.

While this advocacy aligned with a broader liberal internationalist stance on human rights and consular protection, it also prompted criticism from local political figures, such as Reform UK's Jason Patchett, who questioned whether such focus diverted attention from immediate constituency priorities. This highlights the ongoing balance Aquarone, like all MPs, navigates between local representation and broader political advocacy.

Unfortunately on this occasion, it would appear that his vocal support of the Egyptian dissident has not gone down well with the local population that he should be serving according to their wishes, not his own political (and many would say, misguided) personal agenda.

Who is Alaa Abd El-Fattah?

To understand the MP's actions, one must first understand the cause.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah is a globally recognized Egyptian software developer, blogger, and pro-democracy activist. A central figure in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, he has spent most of the last decade in prison under successive Egyptian governments on various charges widely condemned by human rights groups as politically motivated.

His case gained urgent prominence in the UK when he obtained British citizenship through his mother, author Ahdaf Soueif, in 2021. In 2022, while serving a five-year sentence for "spreading false news," he embarked on a full hunger strike and escalated to refusing water during the COP27 UN climate summit in Egypt. This brought his plight to the forefront of British political discourse, framing it as a dire consular case involving a British citizen facing imminent death.

The Evidence: Steff Aquarone’s Parliamentary Campaign

Aquarone’s involvement was not a simple statement of support; it was a sustained, documented effort using official parliamentary channels.

1. Co-Sponsoring a Key Motion: On November 8, 2022, Aquarone was a listed co-sponsor of Early Day Motion (EDM) 619, titled “Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and human rights in Egypt.” The motion called for his immediate release and urged the UK government to use COP27 as leverage. (Source: UK Parliament, EDM 619).
2. Direct Challenge in the Commons: During Foreign Office Questions on November 2, 2022, days before COP27, Aquarone directly challenged Minister Gillian Keegan. He asked: “what specific actions will Ministers be taking in the next 48 hours… to show the Egyptian President… that he must release Alaa before the summit begins?” This demonstrated his role in applying acute, public pressure on the government. (Source: Hansard, Commons Debates, 2 Nov 2022).
3. Formal Written Questions: Following the summit, Aquarone tabled written parliamentary questions to the Foreign Office, demanding to know what steps were being taken to secure Alaa’s release, ensuring the issue remained on the official record. (Source: UK Parliament Written Question 90926).

These actions placed Aquarone within a prominent cross-party coalition of MPs, including figures like Zarah Sultana (Labour), Caroline Lucas (Green), and Brendan O’Hara (SNP), who collectively made Alaa’s case a major parliamentary issue in late 2022.

A Constituency Reaction: Questions of Focus and Priority

While this activism was noted in foreign policy circles, it also prompted reaction at home. Jason Patchett, Branch Chairman of Reform UK in North Norfolk, publicly expressed strong criticism, framing Aquarone’s focus on this international case as a divergence from local interests.

In a statement, Patchett articulated a viewpoint held by some constituents: “There is a sense of shock and dismay that our local MP promoted the return of this individual to the UK. For an MP who claims to have the interests of local people at heart, championing the cause of a foreign national convicted under Egyptian law is difficult to reconcile. It discredits his judgment and puts all his policy positions in doubt. Where was this level of campaigning for our local hospitals, coastal erosion, or the cost-of-living crisis facing North Norfolk families?”

Patchett’s comment highlights a classic tension in politics: the balance between an MP’s role as a local representative and their platform as a national/international advocate. His criticism suggests that, in his view, Aquarone’s energetic pursuit of this global human rights issue came at the expense of perceived focus on pressing domestic constituency matters.

Analysis: Discrediting the MP or Defining His Values?

Did this campaign “discredit” Steff Aquarone? The answer depends entirely on perspective.

• From a Human Rights & Consular Perspective: Aquarone’s actions could be seen as principled. He advocated for a British citizen at grave risk, using diplomatic moments (COP27) strategically. This aligns with a liberal internationalist tradition, demonstrating a commitment to universal rights and the duty of a government to protect its nationals abroad.
• From a Strictly Localist Perspective: As articulated by critics like Patchett, such activism can appear as a distraction from the “bread and butter” issues of the constituency. The criticism implies that an MP’s political capital and time are finite, and choices about where to expend it reflect true priorities.

Verifiable Facts and Context

To separate opinion from fact:

• Fact: Steff Aquarone officially co-sponsored EDM 619 for Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release.
• Fact: He publicly and formally questioned UK government ministers on their strategy regarding this case.
• Fact: Alaa Abd El-Fattah was a British citizen at the time of Aquarone’s interventions, making it a formal consular case.
• Fact: The campaign was cross-party and widespread in Parliament, not an isolated effort by Aquarone.
• Context: MPs routinely engage in foreign policy issues. How constituents judge that engagement often reflects their own views on Britain’s role in the world versus a purely local focus for their MP.

Conclusion

The campaign for Alaa Abd El-Fattah was a defining foreign policy activism moment for several UK MPs, including North Norfolk’s Steff Aquarone. The verifiable parliamentary record shows he was an active participant. Whether this discredits him or defines him as a politician of global conscience is a judgment left to the voters of North Norfolk. It ultimately frames a broader political question: should our local MPs also be our global advocates, or should their gaze remain firmly fixed on the boundaries of their constituency?

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Sources Cited (Hyperlinked in a WordPress Post):

1. UK Parliament. Early Day Motion 619: Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
2. UK Parliament Hansard. Commons Chamber, 2 November 2022, Volume 721. (Search "Aquarone").
3. UK Parliament. Written Question 90926: Alaa Abd El-Fattah: Prisons.
4. Human Rights Watch. Profile on Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s Case.
5. The Guardian. Timeline: The Case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

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