Laura Plummer: Hull MP 'disappointed' by media speculation'
Hull East MP Karl Turner says he is "concerned" for Laura Plummer's wellbeing, following false reports that she had been pardoned by the Egyptian President.
In a statement released today, he said that "Laura is bound to be devastated on hearing that she is not going to be released after the speculation in the British media that she might be".
The 33-year-old was arrested last year after she was found to be carrying 290 Tramadol tablets in her suitcase - a painkiller which is legal in the UK but banned in Egypt.
Earlier this month, the family flew out to Egypt amid reports that Laura had been pardoned by the country’s president.
However, last night the British Embassy told them that there had been been a “mistake” and that Laura’s three-year prison sentence had not been quashed.
Hull East MP Karl Turner said: "It is clear to me that any suggestion that she was to be released by the Egyptian authorities was merely speculative rumour and it had not been confirmed by the British Foreign Office."
"It is disappointing to say the very least that this story was ever published without it being confirmed through official channels".
"The most important thing now is Laura’s wellbeing and I am obviously concerned about the effect of the past few days will have had on her."
The MP claims that it would be highly unusual for the Egyptian Government officials not to notify Foreign Office Officials here in the U.K. if they had in fact intended to release a British citizen from detention in Egypt.
"British Foreign Office officials have only ever maintained throughout that they have received no such information from the Egyptian authorities".
The family have told ITV that they’ll keep fighting and lodge an appeal against the sentence, after being given “false hope” of Laura’s release.