Bliar tells Kennedy that he didn't know British Airports were being used for "Extraordinary Rendition"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Dec 2005

Charles Kennedy - challenging the Prime Minister over "extraordinary rendition"

Charles Kennedy has challenged the Prime Minister over the British government's co-operation with the American policy of 'extraordinary rendition.' - a policy better known as taking people in secret, without trial or with the knowledge of their loved ones, to secret prisons outside of the rule of law of either the host country or of the USA itself. He pointed out to the Prime Minister that recently published figures show "over 400 flights have passed through 18 British airports" carrying terrorist suspects. The Prime Minister shockingly revealed that "In respect of airports, I don't know what he's referring to."

What is most horrific about the Prime Minister's comments is that the reason it has been revealed has been though the work and action of, not peace campaigners, but "anorak" plane spotters. If the Prime Minister thinks that plane spotters know more about what's happening at our Airports than this country's security services then it's about time he came clean about how incompetent he thinks our security services are.

Mr Kennedy pushed the Prime Minister to divulge "…when he as

Prime Minister was first made aware of this policy, and then, did he approve of the policy?" The Prime Minister responded by saying "…rendition…has been the policy of the American government for many years." and he then went on to justify these flights that are taking people to secret prisons without trial and without a word of condemnation.

For Background Information:

The Figures were published initially in the Guardian of 6 December 2005 and reveal that 183 Charter jets and 207 CIA jets have landed at the British airports of Luton, Farnborough, London Stansted, Biggin Hill, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Birmingham, Prestwick, Leuchars, Glasgow, Inverness, Gatwick, Belfast (Aldergrove), Northolt, Brize Norton, Bournemouth, Mildenhall, and Wick since September 11th 2001.

The full text of the Parliamentary exchange between Tony Blair and Charles Kennedy:

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker, the United States Secretary of State yesterday said that 'extraordinary rendition' had been conducted in co-operation with European governments. To what extent therefore has his government co-operated in the transport of terrorist suspects to Afghanistan and elsewhere apparently for torture purposes?

Prime Minister: First of all let me draw a very clear distinction indeed between the idea of suspects being taken from one country to another and any sense whatever that ourselves or the United States or anyone condones the use of torture. Torture can not be justified in any set of circumstances at all. The fact is that rendition as described by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been the American policy for many years, we've not had such a situation here but that has been the American policy for many many years, it however must be applied in accordance with international conventions and I accept entirely her assurance that it has been.

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker given that assurance from the Prime Minister could he therefore explain why the now published evidence shows that it's almost 400 flights which have passed though 18 British airports for the period of concern. Could he therefore tell us when was he as Prime

Minister first made aware of this policy, and then, did he approve of the policy?

Prime Minister: In respect of airports, I don't know what he's referring to. Secondly however, in respect of the policy of rendition that has been the policy of the American government for many years. The Honourable Gentleman says why. I think it's just as well to remember that some of the people we are talking about are people that we need to detain for reasons of action against international terrorism. Some of these people are highly dangerous; some of them can provide information that is of absolutely fundamental importance in preventing terrorism. There should of course be proper treatment of anyone detained and I've already made this clear so far as I'm aware, it's not an issue here. However I would say that the American policy on this has been clear for ages. That is not a matter of contention, and what Secretary of State Rice said yesterday I fully endorse.