Member

The point being made through those specific cases is made for a wider set of cases through amendment 3. I wish the Government would accept the amendment rather than our having to put it to a vote, but I think it is necessary for us to do so in order to make this point. Too often we co-operate, rather lazily at times, with Administrations in foreign countries that we know will never give a fair trial to a British citizen sitting in their courts—in fact, they do not have a fair trial for many of their own citizens. For example, the UAE has been brutal in its behaviour, fomenting violence and war in Sudan, but it gets away with it simply because it happens to be wealthy enough and we want its investment. But we should never turn our head away from the single greatest thing we have given to the world, and which we should constantly recognise that we should maintain for the rest of the world: habeas corpus—the right to a proper and fair trial. It is an inalienable right of every individual who is a British citizen, and we should defend that right. To defend that right, we should not give cause to those courts that will not give a fair trial by giving them information, support or help at any time. That is the amendment I have tabled and, if called, I will move it.