Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats | Ross Skye & Lochaber

Blair Tells Kennedy At PMQs He Didn’t Know British Airports Were Being Used For ‘Extraordinary Rendition’

Charles Kennedy today challenged the Prime Minister over the British government’s co-operation with the American policy of ‘extraordinary rendition.’  He pointed out to the Prime Minister that recently published figures show ‘over 400 flights have passed through 18 British airports’ carrying terrorist suspects. The Prime Minister revealed that ‘In respect of airports, I don’t know what he’s referring to.’

Mr Kennedy pushed the Prime Minister to divulge ‘when he as Prime Minister was first made aware of this policy, and then, did he approve of the policy?’

Notes to Editors:

Figures published in yesterday’s Guardian (6.12.05) reveal that 183 Charter jets and 207 CIA jets have landed at the British airports of Luton, Farnborough, London Stansted, Biggin Hill, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Birmingham, Prestwick, Leuchars, Glasgow, Inverness, Gatwick, Belfast (Aldergrove),Northolt, Brize Norton, Bournemouth, Mildenhall, and Wick since September 11th 2001.

Full text of exchange follows

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker, the United States Secretary of State yesterday said that ‘extraordinary rendition’ had been conducted in co-operation with European governments. To what extent therefore has his government co-operated in the transport of terrorist suspects to Afghanistan and elsewhere apparently for torture purposes?

Prime Minister: First of all let me draw a very clear distinction indeed between the idea of suspects being taken from one country to another and any sense whatever that ourselves or the United States or anyone condones the use of torture. Torture can not be justified in any set of circumstances at all. The fact is that rendition as described by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been the American policy for many years, we’ve not had such a situation here but that has been the American policy for many many years, it however must be applied in accordance with international conventions and I accept entirely her assurance that it has been.

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker given that assurance from the Prime Minister could he therefore explain why the now published evidence shows that it’s almost 400 flights which have passed though 18 British airports for the period of concern. Could he therefore tell us when was he as Prime Minister first made aware of this policy, and then, did he approve of the policy?

Prime Minister: In respect of airports, I don’t know what he’s referring to. Secondly however, in respect of the policy of rendition that has been the policy of the American government for many years. The Honourable Gentleman says why. I think it’s just as well to remember that some of the people we are talking about are people that we need to detain for reasons of action against international terrorism. Some of these people are highly dangerous; some of them can provide information that is of absolutely fundamental importance in preventing terrorism. There should of course be proper treatment of anyone detained and I’ve already made this clear so far as I’m aware, it’s not an issue here. However I would say that the American policy on this has been clear for ages. That is not a matter of contention, and what Secretary of State Rice said yesterday I fully endorse.