Chennai Six

IMG_4469-e1504708595790In 2013 six British men, including my constituent John Armstrong, were arrested and jailed in India on weapons charges. Their legitimate defence, that their weapons were lawfully held for the purposes of guarding against pirates, was ignored. I subsequently actively campaigned for the release of the “Chennai Six”.

I lobbied both the British and Indian Governments, flew to India to visit John and pushed for the release of John and his friends with Indian officials, politicians and with British diplomats. . I met with John’s family on multiple occasions and shared their frustration at the length of time that the Indian legal system took to release these men. I was delighted when John was acquitted in 2017 and I was so proud of his family for all their hard work in securing this result. They campaigned actively and publicly, through their website – http://www.chennai6.co.uk/ – and through the media, and John’s release was testament to their efforts.

CHRISTMAS WISHES FROM PENRITH AND THE BORDER, DECEMBER 2017

This comes with the warmest wishes for Christmas and the New Year. I am writing near Pooley Bridge. The sheep are hunched against the rain under a low grey sky, the river is high, and the banks deep in dank brown leaves, but the limestone walls are sparkling. And through the surrounding thousand square miles […]

Rory’s comments on the release of Wigton constituent John Armstrong

“John has now finally flown out of India, following his almost four-year ordeal in India. I cannot overstate how pleased I am for John and his family, in particular his parents and sister Joanne Thomlinson, who have done so much to bring about this result, and whose courage and patience throughout has made a huge impression […]

Rory on Consular Support for British Citizens

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr McCabe. Consular support is fundamental to British foreign policy. It is probably the very oldest element of British foreign policy. Before we had a Foreign Office, protecting British citizens abroad was in our DNA, and it remains for us a very fundamental responsibility. That is […]

RORY OFFERS FURTHER SUPPORT FOR CHENNAI SIX MAN

Rory Stewart MP has met again with the family of a Wigton man currently imprisoned in India. John Armstrong, a former Paratrooper, was one of six British men – known as the ‘Chennai 6’ – arrested in 2013 on board an anti-piracy ship and convicted of illegally possessing firearms in Indian waters. Since then, Rory has been […]

RORY DELIGHTED AT BAIL FOR WIGTON SAILOR HELD IN INDIA

Rory today said he has been “delighted that hard work and common sense have finally prevailed” in response to the news that his Wigton constituent John Armstrong – a maritime security guard – has been bailed today after a long campaign involving the family, and MPs from across the house. He has been bailed from […]