Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Duncan and Lord McLoughlin

Tuesday 27th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sir Patrick McLoughlin (Derbyshire Dales) (Con)]

Now the Prime Minister has put some backbone into the Foreign Office, is it not about time that we took some action against the Ecuadorian embassy? How long are we prepared to allow this situation to go on, where, as the Minister of State said in previous questions, a man is avoiding lawful arrest?

[Sir Alan Duncan]

It is of great regret that Julian Assange remains in the Ecuador embassy. It is of deeper regret that even last night he was tweeting against Her Majesty’s Government for their conduct in replying to the attack in Salisbury. It is about time that this miserable little worm walked out of the embassy and gave himself up to British justice.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Duncan and Lord McLoughlin

Tuesday 20th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sir Patrick McLoughlin (Derbyshire Dales) (Con)]

May I ask my right hon. Friend what his view is of the position with the Ecuadorian embassy in London? The situation has been going on since 19 June 2012. In the first three years, it was estimated to have cost the Metropolitan police an extra £11 million. When are we going to take action?

[The Minister for Europe and the Americas (Sir Alan Duncan)]

Julian Assange breached his bail conditions in 2012. In upholding the arrest warrant of 13 February, Judge Arbuthnot said:

“He appears to consider himself above the normal rules of law and wants justice only if it goes in his favour.”

In our view, Assange is not a victim of arbitrary detention. He is avoiding lawful arrest. He should step outside the door and face justice. That would bring an end to the matter.