Labour

We want to see Abu Qatada deported to stand fair trial in Jordan - Cooper

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“We want to see Abu Qatada deported to stand fair trial in Jordan - the courts and Home Secretary have made clear he is dangerous and a risk.

“We hope that the new assurances the Home Secretary has sought from Jordan will work, and we will support the process through Parliament.

“But Theresa May's promises on Abu Qatada have proved overblown in the past when she said previous assurances from Jordan would mean "we can soon put Qatada on a plane and get him out of our country for good."

“We hope they have got it right this time. They will need to show how it meets the specific test the immigration court (SIAC) has demanded.

“But the Home Secretary also needs to clear up the confusion about whether the Government is considering a temporary withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights.

“She needs to explain why she wants to withdraw over a European Court decision she didn't like, yet she failed to appeal against that decision when she had the chance. And she needs to explain why Ministers are contradicting each other and descending into chaos over their plans.

“There have been a history of errors and Home Office legal mistakes over Abu Qatada - including getting the date wrong and claiming the previous Jordanian assurances would solve the problem. As a result of Theresa May’s legal strategy so far, we are now back to square one in the deportation process.

“We don't want any more confusion and overblown promises - just practical action so that deportation can properly go ahead.”