Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

Indeed. I think it sends the wrong signal at this particular time. I hope I can persuade many more hon. Members of the force of my argument. In today's The Guardian online, there is an article, stating that coalition criminal justice plans"““make a mockery of universal jurisdiction””." It continues:"““Giving suspects from 'protected countries' immunity from war crimes arrests would turn the UK into a safe haven for suspects””." That was written by an eminent human rights lawyer, Daniel Machower. He goes on to say:"““A legal case for changing the current judicial process, through the senior district judge, has not been made out and parliament is entitled to reject the proposed change on that basis alone.””" I have my own views on the Tzipi Livni case. I happen to regard the crimes documented in the Goldstone report as being pretty damning. The very strength of current system, however, is that it does not matter what my view is: it is a decision taken by a court without political considerations and on the basis of the evidence alone. That is the system that the Government are going to undermine.