Emily Watson has appealed to Sir Keir Starmer to intensify efforts to “save” the mother of an imprisoned British-Egyptian activist who has been on hunger strike for more than 245 days. Laila Soueif is currently hospitalised as a result of her ongoing hunger strike protesting the detention of her son, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, in Cairo, Egypt. The 69-year-old has said she is willing to die to secure Mr Abd el-Fattah’s release, who is being detained illegally by Egypt according to a UN investigation. In an exclusive video shared with The Independent on Tuesday, the Academy Award-nominated actor urged the prime minister to take immediate action to save Ms Soueif. “Before it’s too late, we need to save Layla’s life,” said Watson, who is known for her roles in The Theory of Everything and Gosford Park.

Police were called to a collision on New Barn Road in Dartford, Kent, just before 9:30pm on Sunday (1 June). | ITV News Meridian

One-year-old baby girl also injured in crash near Dartford

Soueif is willing to do ‘what it takes’ to free Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after a lifetime of speaking up against injustice

Starmer bound to accept Mark Rutte’s higher target after announcing ‘Nato-first’ defence strategy, insiders say

Keir Starmer expected to confirm result of 15-year search for investment at UK-France summit next month

In today’s newsletter: The problems and proposed solutions of a major new strategic defence review pitched as a blueprint to modernise the military

The long-awaited strategic defence review warned the UK may need to move even more quickly than planned to tackle the ‘pressing and immediate’ threat of Russia

AN urgent hunt has been launched for a suspect after children were allegedly approached by a man who touched one inappropriately before chasing him. Cops have released a CCTV image of a man who the…

Hiba Ahmed and Ayeshah Behit followed Alex Davies-Jones down the street shouting about genocide as she campaigned during the 2024 election

Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward until 27 August if it receives exclusive information that leads to a conviction.

FIREFIGHTERS have issued a fresh update on the large flat fire in Orford this evening, Monday.

Ayeshah Behit, 31, and Hiba Ahmed, 26, denied harassing Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones.

Police believe remains are of Izabela Zablocka, from Normanton, and have launched murder investigation

Ambulance service issues statement on flat fire after declaring ‘major incident’