Sir Menzies Campbell condemns unequal US - UK extradition treaty

1.45.43pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Jul 2006

The UK should put on hold controversial extradition laws which allow fast-track removals to the US, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has said. The 2003 Extradition Act Sir Menzies said was a "constitutional disgrace" given that the US Senate had yet to ratify the treaty behind the laws.

The background to this is that very soon three British bankers will be handed over to US Marshals at Heathrow Airport and taken to Texas to be imprisoned for up to two years before any trial begins. The US accuses them of fraud but has produced no evidence and none has been asked for. The alleged crimes were committed in Britain against a British bank and the three accused are willing to face trial in Britain - but no charges have been brought against them. The USA would not send its citizens to Britain under similar circumstances.

On today's BBC Radio 4 Today programme Sir Menzies Campbell said this had come about because Britain and the USA had signed an extradition treaty similar to the one between EU members. Its primary aim was to deal with alleged terrorists not fraud but the United States Senate failed to ratify it in case Britain attempted to extradite alleged IRA supporters. When the Treaty was debated in Parliament several years ago Sir Menzies Campbell had warned of the dangers of signing such an unequal arrangement. He is now calling on the government to suspend the Treaty until the USA ratifies it and honours their side of the deal.