The parents of Harry Dunn are encouraging voters in Dominic Raab’s constituency to back one of his General Election opponents over their frustration at his handling of their son’s case.
Tim Dunn and Charlotte Charles, whose son Harry died almost three months ago, put pressure on the Foreign Secretary in the Esher and Walton constituency.
A crowd booed on Monday evening as the Foreign Secretary left East Molesey Methodist Church in an official car after a hustings in his constituency.
The 19-year-old’s family plan on confronting the Conservative candidate on Monday evening while calling on locals to vote for a Liberal Democrat hopeful contesting the seat.
“This is not about left or right. It’s about trust and right versus wrong.
“People will need to form their own judgements of course but given our experience of Mr Raab’s behaviour, we strongly believe that he is not worthy of holding public office,” said the family.
“We would hate for any family to suffer at his hands as we have. We would encourage the constituency to vote for his strongest challenger who we understand is Monica Harding.”
They added: “They and the nation need to know the real facts of what has happened and the disgraceful manner in which Mr Raab has behaved and we look forward to meeting with them. Harry would expect nothing less of us.”
Mr Dunn and Mrs Charles have previously criticised the Tory candidate and the family’s lawyers have sought legal action against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) over enabling their son’s killer to evade justice.
Dominic Raab’s decision to pursue legal costs against the grieving family in the case sparked outrage.
Harry was killed when his motorbike was involved in a head-on crash with a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27.
Anne Sacoolas, the motorist allegedly responsible for the crash, claimed diplomatic immunity and was allowed to return to the US, sparking an international controversy.
In a statement Mr Dunn and Mrs Charles said the Foreign Secretary should explain why he “steadfastly refuses to publicly call for Mrs Sacoolas to be returned to the UK”.
They added: “We are not political people. Whatever political thoughts we hold we generally keep to ourselves.
“But the enormity and shocking nature of what has happened to us have left us feeling compelled to come to Esher and Walton this evening in the midst of the current election campaign.
“We feel that his handling of our situation has been so outrageously dishonourable and disrespectful that we have a duty to respectfully bring these matters to the direct attention of that local community that have until now voted him into this position.”
A claim by the family, which alleged that the granting of diplomatic immunity to Mrs Sacoolas was “wrong in law”, was met with strong resistance from the FCO – which told the family it would oppose and seek costs for any legal action.
Crowd boo Dominic Raab at his local hustings
Dominic Raab was called a “coward” by the friends and family of Harry Dunn, who were hoping to confront him at a hustings in his constituency.
Tim Dunn, Harry’s father, was unable to enter the event held in the Esher and Walton constituency due to overcrowding, which led to him and other supporters heckling the Foreign Secretary outside.
A crowd booed and branded Mr Raab a “coward” as he left East Molesey Methodist Church in an official car on Monday evening, after the event where he and other candidates aimed to appeal to local constituents.
Harry was killed when his motorbike was involved in a head-on crash with a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27.
Anne Sacoolas, the motorist allegedly responsible for the crash, claimed diplomatic immunity and was allowed to return to the US, sparking an international controversy.
Harry’s family hoped to put pressure on the Foreign Secretary at the hustings in Surrey, but they and other supporters were kept outside of the packed venue, which saw many attendees without a seat.
A member of staff at the church said the decision was related to fire safety.
Following questions on the NHS, Brexit and foreign policy, a local resident stood up to address Mr Raab during his closing statement.
Rebecca Little, who lives in Cobham, told the PA news agency that she has been following the events on social media.
The 44-year-old said she chose to ask Mr Raab about the case on behalf of Harry’s family, claiming that they were prevented from entering the event by his security.
“I was shut down by the shouting when I stood up but I could see other people in the audience saying, ‘Come on, let them in’,” she said.
“There were several security detail preventing the family from coming in but they have a right to enter the hustings.
“When Raab’s heavies are preventing them coming in, I believe the people in there had a right to know.”
Mother-of-two Ms Little said she had confronted the Foreign Secretary over the issue of food banks at a previous hustings.
Signs calling for Harry’s family and friends to be allowed to enter were held up against the church door, which was monitored by staff.
There were chants of “let us in” with more than 50 people outside.
During the visit to the constituency on Monday evening, Mr Dunn had hoped to call on voters to back Monica Harding, a Liberal Democrat candidate hoping to unseat Mr Raab.
Asked why he thought Mr Raab did not speak to him, Mr Dunn told reporters: “I think he doesn’t want to give me the answers I need.
“There’s things going on, we’re not quiet about it, we think the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and the FCO (Foreign Office) are talking and delaying tactics.
“I just don’t understand why it’s taking so long. We’ll keep going and answering the questions and hopefully get there soon.”
Northamptonshire Police, who were not told Mrs Sacoolas had left the UK, have handed a file of evidence to the CPS after interviewing the 42-year-old in the US.
The family of 19-year-old Harry have been fighting for action in a three-month saga that saw the case taken to the White House.
Mr Raab has previously defended the decision by the FCO to “seek costs” for any legal action.