Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully, UK trade envoy to Brunei, is being urged to publicly condemn the Asian country's new anti-LGBT stoning laws.

Under the new Islamic criminal laws in Brunei, which apply to children and foreigners, even if they are not Muslim, those found guilty of gay sex could be stoned to death or whipped.

The new legislature has prompted international outrage as Hollywood star George Clooney has led calls to boycott luxury hotels owned by the sultan of Brunei.

But now Mr Scully is being urged to publicly condemn the nation as MP Richard Graham, UK trade envoy to the ASEAN Economy Community, which Brunei is part of, recently raised the issue in Parliament.

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The Change.org petition, launched by Angela Foster, has gained more than 32,000 signatures at the time of publishing.

She said: “We want the UK to be clear that it condemns new anti-gay LGBT laws in Brunei that could see people being stoned to death just for being gay. Other punishments for same-sex activity could include whipping and up to 10 years in prison.

“We believe that the UK’s best chance of influencing governments in other countries, to improve citizens’ human rights, is by linking human rights to trade relations.

“And the UK is Brunei’s sixth biggest importer – they imported $132 million [£100 million] of UK goods in 2017.

“So we are calling on Paul Scully and Richard Graham to publicly condemn these barbaric laws.”

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Some councillors in Sutton are also now calling on the Sutton and Cheam MP to take action.

Worcester Park councillor Drew Heffernan said: “[More than] 31,000 people should not have to sign a petition urging Tory MP Paul Scully to condemn Brunei's anti-LGBT laws.

“As a Lib Dem councillor in Mr Scully's constituency, I urge him to assure LGBT residents that he will not stand idly by as UK trade envoy while the LGBT community in Brunei is persecuted.”

Sutton Guardian has contacted Mr Scully's office for comment.

To see the petition, click here.