Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect Edmundo Gonzalez, leader of the Venezuelan democratic opposition.

It is completely unacceptable that the Maduro regime forced Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez into exile and issued a warrant for his arrest. Baroness Chapman of Darlington publicly condemned the arrest warrant on 4 September. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken out against these reprehensible actions. I am grateful that Spain has been able to provide safety and asylum to Edmundo Gonzalez and he is now able to continue to speak out for the democratic will of the Venezuelan people. The UK continues to work with international partners to achieve a peaceful solution in Venezuela. Dialogue remains the only solution.