Davey: Complicity in co-operating with torture and rendition may reach highest levels of Government

3.28.00pm GMT Tue 17th Feb 2009

Edward Davey has called on David Miliband to release all documents and legal advice relating to the Government’s policy on the interrogation of terror suspects outside the UK by British Secret Service Agents, if necessary solely to the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Edward Davey said:

"The nature of these allegations grows ever more serious by the day. They suggest that complicity in UK co-operation with torture and extraordinary rendition may reach to the highest levels of Government.

"Now that it has come to light, the legality of this interrogation policy needs to be challenged and at the very least the Intelligence and Security Committee must have access to all related documents." The full text of Edward Davey's letter to the Foreign Secretary is below: Dear David, I was very disturbed to read reports in today's Guardian, which allege that the Government not only knew about the extraordinary rendition and torture of terror suspects, but willingly crafted a policy to allow MI5 to interrogate suspects who had been illegally rendered or tortured by secret services of other countries. These allegations are surely contrary to statements you have made in the House of Commons. For example, on 5 February 2009 you told the House that, "It is the longstanding policy of this Government that we never condone, authorise or co-operate in torture." A year earlier, on 21 February 2008, you told the House that, "so-called extraordinary rendition to torture is always wrong-it is illegal and immoral." It is therefore of the utmost urgency that this grave contradiction between your words and the serious allegations set out in the Guardian report is resolved. I request that you immediately release all documents, including legal advice, pertaining to the Government's policy of interrogation of terror suspects by British intelligence services outside the UK, if necessary with release solely to the Intelligence and Security Committee. More specifically, what guidance has been given to Security Service agents regarding the legality of the process of interrogation of terror suspects in overseas locations where it is suspected or known that the suspects had been tortured or illegally rendered. The nature of these allegations grows ever more serious by the day. They suggest that complicity in a policy of co-operation in torture and extraordinary rendition may reach to the highest levels of Government. Now that it has come to light, the legality of the interrogation policy must be subject to scrutiny. I seriously suggest to you that it is better that this matter be cleared up once and for all with a thorough independent inquiry than be left to fester and further corrode public faith in Government, both at home and abroad. Yours, Edward Davey MP

Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary