Matthew Hedges: British academic jailed by UAE for ‘spying’ says government did not do enough to help him

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It is unacceptable the British government now pretend nothing happened.” Mr Hedges’ lawyer, Rodney Dixon QC, told the paper: “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be taking all possible steps to clear Matthew’s name, especially as he was wrongly convicted by the UAE of being an agent of the UK government. And yet they have flatly refused and left him in the lurch.” A spokesperson from the Foreign Office confirmed officials had received Mr Hedges’s complaint and it would be investigated. ”As the foreign secretary has said, our ministers and staff, in the UK and the UAE, worked incredibly hard to support Matthew and his family during his detention and following his release. “The foreign secretary and Foreign Office ministers raised Matthew’s case with the UAE authorities at the highest levels, including with foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed, stressing the need for due process and raising our concerns about his welfare.