Police and Justice Bill

In the article in the Financial Times yesterday mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson—I say this much more in sorrow than in anger, because I share the general admiration for the noble Baroness expressed in this Committee today—the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, accused those of us who oppose the Government in this matter and who support these amendments of trying, "““to score an anti-American party-political point””." I wonder if, on reflection, she might concede that this is a wholly unfair accusation and in 99.9 per cent of cases completely untrue. We may strongly disapprove of Guantanamo Bay and of certain aspects of the American penal system. Like my noble friend Lord Rees-Mogg, we may also be uneasy at the plea-bargaining system which is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States, which seems in practice to net some of the slower-witted small fry while letting the wily big fish off the hook. None of this makes us anti-American, not least because so many Americans feel exactly the same way. In the same article in the Financial Times, the noble Baroness went on to refer quite reasonably and properly to the ““alleged conspiracy”” and the ““alleged co-conspirators””, speaking of the NatWest Three. However, in a BBC Radio 4 interview heard by millions two days earlier—on Saturday, 9 July—in arguing that the extradition of the NatWest Three was right and proper, she asserted: ““There are””—note that word—““co-conspirators in America””. No if’s and but’s here and no use of the qualifying words ““alleged””, ““possible”” or ““suspected””. Only those guilty of conspiracy can have co-conspirators. It stands to reason. So here we have a clear-cut, prejudicial presumption of guilt. In other words, a senior member of this Government—somebody renowned for her legal skills, talent, expertise and experience—has in effect publicly declared that those whom the Government are happy to have extradited are indeed guilty. How in such circumstances can they possibly receive a fair trial in the United States?