Sir Menzies Campbell condemns unequal US - UK extradition treaty

5.02.40pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Jul 2006

The Liberal Democrats will tomorrow table an 'Extradition (United States of America) Bill' which would require the presentation of evidence to a judge before a person can be extradited to the US. Sir Menzies Campbell yesterday became the first party leader to call for the suspension of the treaty, which allows suspects to be extradited even when, as in the NatWest case, the alleged offence took place in the UK and is not being pursued by British authorities. Challenged on the issue by Sir Menzies at PMQs today, Tony Blair rejected criticism of the treaty but said he would try to try to help the bankers get bail.

Sir Menzies said "It is a constitutional disgrace that these men can be extradited on the basis of identification only, with no need for a proper case against them to be presented in a British court. It's a new constitutional idea: a unilateral treaty in which we commit ourselves to doing things before it's clear that our allies are willing to do so. Why should the rights of British citizens be any less than those of Americans?"