Boris Johnson gave a pledge that he would act to secure the release of the six men, who were arrested when they were working as security guards on an anti-piracy ship

The families of six British Army veterans imprisoned in a notorious Indian jail say they are disgusted by Boris Johnson’s handling of the case.

They criticised the foreign secretary for recycling “the exact wording” of a pledge to secure the men’s release in his promise to the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. She has been imprisoned in Iran for more than 600 days and now faces a new trial.

Their comments come as they await the outcome of an appeal tomorrow, which could allow the men, known as the “Chennai Six”, to return home for their first family Christmas in five years.

In July, Johnson said he would “leave no stone unturned” in securing the release of the former servicemen. They were among 35 crew arrested