APPG News
UN Committee adds to calls for inquiry
In a new report (the sixth periodic report on the UK, covering a wide range of issues), the UN Committee Against Torture has urged the British Government to initiate its long-promised judge-led inquiry into extraordinary rendition. Citing the further revelations in last summer's reports by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), the Committee urges the Govenrment to "establish without further delay an inquiry on alleged acts of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees held overseas committed by, at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of British officials." It exp…
Foreign office criticised over scrutiny of UK spy agencies
APPG Chair, Ken Clarke, is quoted in the today's Financial Times on concerns over the lack of challenge by the Foreign Office when signing off possible unlawful action by UK spy agencies overseas.
The Financial Times article is in response to the recent annual report published by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office. Ken Clarke said: “ It is extremely important that the secretary of state takes this role seriously and scrutinises adequately and in some detail what he or she is being asked to authorise. Over successive governments some ministers have acted conscienti…
APPG holds AGM, welcomes new members
The APPG today held its AGM and welcomed the following new members: Imran Hussain MP, Richard Graham MP, Dr Matthew Offord MP and Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP.
APPG founder Rt Hon Lord Tyrie was appointed as Co-Chair, with Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP remaining as Chair.
Read the AGM minutes here.
Ken Clarke: Government response to Intelligence and Security Committee reports on rendition "an exercise in evasion"
APPG Chair Ken Clarke has today criticised the government’s attempt to bury its response to the Intelligence and Security Committee reports into detainee mistreatment and rendition.
UK spy agencies knew source of false Iraq war intelligence was tortured
Middle East Eye reveals today that British intelligence agencies fed questions to the interrogators of a captured terrorism suspect whom they knew was being seriously mistreated in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and ministers then relied upon his answers to help justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
UK anti-torture policy 'unfit for purpose', says APPG
As covered in today's Financial Times, the APPG has responded to the public consultation on the UK's anti-torture policy, by calling the policy 'unfit for purpose and insufficient to prevent a repeat of UK involvement in rendition and torture.'