WATCH: Nicky Morgan says Boris Johnson should consider quitting over British mother jailed in Iran
2 min read
Nicky Morgan has said her fellow Conservative MP Boris Johnson should consider quitting over his gaffe that could add another five years to a British mother's time in an Iranian prison.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was hauled before a court in Tehran and told her five-year sentence could be doubled after the Foreign Secretary said she had been "teaching people journalism" there.
The comment directly contradicted Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's insistence that she was on holiday when she was detained 18 months ago.
Today her husband Richard Ratcliffe wrote to Mr Johnson saying: "I want you to solve this mess created in your name."
Former Education Secretary Ms Morgan took a swipe at her colleague when she was asked about the case on the BBC's Daily Politics today.
“I certainly think he should be considering his position, yes," she said, before adding: "The important point is the safety and security of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe."
Ms Morgan also took a swipe at Michael Gove, who yesterday claimed he did not know why Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in Iran at the time of her arrest.
“I can’t imagine what went through Boris Johnson and, dare I say it, Michael Gove’s minds," she said. "We all know after a week of coverage that she was in the country visiting her parents with her daughter.
"That’s it, end of story. There is no justification for the Iranians to be holding her.”
The Loughborough MP added that it would be "completely inexcusable" if Mr Johnson had made the blunder because he had failed to read his brief properly.
"There are times when being a Secretary of State involves reading large boxes of papers for hours every weekend and hours every night but that is the job," she explained.
"That is the job you are asked to do on behalf of your country. If he doesn’t want to do it, then somebody else should be given the job.”
Watch her full remarks here:
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was said to be "angry" and in disbelief that the comments by Mr Johnson comments could “endanger her life".
A spokesman for Theresa May this morning slapped down Mr Gove over his comments yesterday.
He said: "The Government's position on this is clear - she was there on holiday. It wasn't for any other purpose. The position of the Government is clear and has been clear throughout."
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