Actor Cox calls on PM to aid activist jailed in Egypt.

Byline: EXCLUSIVE By DAVE BURKE Political Correspondent

SUCCESSION star Brian Cox has pleaded with Keir Starmer to help bring a wrongly imprisoned British citizen home from Egypt.

The actor, 78, called on the Prime Minister to secure activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah's release.

Alaa's mother Laila Soueif, 68, is currently on hunger strike, with fears growing for her health as she enters her third month without eating. Blogger and software developer Alaa, 43, is still in an Egyptian jail even though his sentence ended in September.

Mr Cox said in a video to the PM: "You and I know a thing or two about power and how to use it. It's time to make the call, Prime Minister, pick up the phone and bring Alaa home for Christmas. We're counting on you."

Dual-national Alaa, who has a 13-year-old son, should have been released on September 29 after serving a spurious five-year sentence for "spreading fake news". The pro-democracy activist had previously been jailed for organising a political protest without permission.

Mr Cox said: "Alaa's mother is putting her own life in danger so that her son might finally be able to live a free life once more in peace and dignity. Prime Minister, you're the only one who can make this happen."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our priority remains securing the release of Mr El-Fattah.

"The Foreign Secretary has raised his case with Egypt on multiple occasions."

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PLEA FOR HELP Brian Cox