I have recently received several emails following the election of Jair Bolsonaro as President of Brazil, asking me to sign EDM 1854. Unfortunately, my position as an Opposition Whip prevents me from signing EDMs, but I agree that the current situation in Brazil is deeply troubling.

The comments President Bolsonaro has made on women, race and homosexuality are repugnant. I am also concerned about his decision to relax gun control, which makes it easier for individuals to store guns without a licence within Brazil.

His decision to remove environmental protections is particularly worrying as this could have detrimental effects upon the world, as well as harming the lives of the indigenous people of Brazil who still call the Amazon home. This move has placed a focus on business, rather than the lives of the individuals within Brazil.

The UK should be leading the way in the world in terms of highlighting the importance of human rights and setting an example for our allies. For this reason I believe human rights should be at the heart of UK foreign policy and the Government should make it clear that, while the UK stands with the people of Brazil, we certainly do not share the values of their new President.