Boris Backs Campaign For Last Guantanamo Brit

London Mayor Boris Johnson has become the latest politician to join the campaign to free the last British resident still held at Guantanamo Bay.

Shaker Aamer has been held for more than 13 years without charge, and is still detained despite twice being cleared for transfer by both presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.

The Saudi-born prisoner has British residency status because his wife and children are British.

Now dozens of MPs from all the major parties, actors and musicians have signed a letter to Mr Obama pleading for his return to London.

The letter has been written to coincide with American Independence Day, and the Fourth of July celebrations.

The letter says: "It has not escaped our notice that, while the US is celebrating its freedom and its foundation under the rule of law, the continuing detention of men at Guantanamo - largely without charge or trial - continues to undermine America's notion of itself and its international standing."

Mr Johnson, Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart, comedian Russell Brand, and singer Peter Gabriel are among the signatories.

The letter notes that the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently joined the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Magna Carta.

It says: "When Ms Lynch stated at Runnymede that the fundamental principles of the Magna Carta have 'given hopes to those who face oppression' and have 'given a voice to those yearning for the redress of wrongs', it was impossible not to think of Shaker Aamer, and others in Guantanamo, also 'yearning for the redress of wrongs', but finding that yearning repeatedly unfulfilled."

A delegation of MPs visited Washington in May and say they were given no explanation for the delay in Mr Aamer's release.