Abu Qatada Debate

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Department: Home Office

Abu Qatada

Julian Brazier Excerpts
Tuesday 7th February 2012

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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I wish to be in a position in which we can deport Abu Qatada, so that he will not be in this country when the Olympics take place.

Julian Brazier Portrait Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend accept that, in our unwritten constitution, there is a distinction between the rule of law and the tyranny of lawyers? Does she also accept that the interaction between the European Court of Human Rights and the ruling by Justice Mitting on the question of bail has created a dangerous situation in which millions of people in this country are starting to lose confidence in our legal system?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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I do not believe that millions of people are losing confidence in our legal system. I believe that they are concerned about the ability of the European Court to come to decisions that we do not believe to be in the best interests of the United Kingdom. This decision on Abu Qatada is clearly a case in point. That is why it is important for the Government to pursue the work that we are doing, not only in looking into the possibility of a British Bill of Rights but in trying to make changes to the way in which the European Court operates, so that in future we will be able to deport people who present a danger to us.