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European Arrest Warrant: Parliamentary vote announced | European Arrest Warrant: Parliamentary vote announced |
(about 5 hours later) | |
MPs will vote on Monday on whether the UK should continue using the European Arrest Warrant. | MPs will vote on Monday on whether the UK should continue using the European Arrest Warrant. |
Commons Leader William Hague announced the debate on opting into 35 EU justice measures - including the EAW - that the government wants to retain. | Commons Leader William Hague announced the debate on opting into 35 EU justice measures - including the EAW - that the government wants to retain. |
Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to face a backbench rebellion but the measure is expected to pass with Labour and Lib Dem backing. | Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to face a backbench rebellion but the measure is expected to pass with Labour and Lib Dem backing. |
It came as senior judges said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security". | It came as senior judges said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security". |
Under the terms of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, the UK has to decide by 1 December whether to continue to adhere to the EU criminal justice and law enforcement measures. | Under the terms of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, the UK has to decide by 1 December whether to continue to adhere to the EU criminal justice and law enforcement measures. |
The UK has opted out of all 133, but ministers want to retain 35, including the European Arrest Warrant, which allows police to extradite suspects quickly between EU states. | The UK has opted out of all 133, but ministers want to retain 35, including the European Arrest Warrant, which allows police to extradite suspects quickly between EU states. |
Mr Hague confirmed the full-day debate would take place before a Parliamentary committee had agreed the draft proposals, saying this was "unusual" but "not unprecedented". | Mr Hague confirmed the full-day debate would take place before a Parliamentary committee had agreed the draft proposals, saying this was "unusual" but "not unprecedented". |
But Labour's Angela Eagle suggested it was being rushed through because the government was "desperate to get the vote out of the way" because it was worried about a backbench revolt. | But Labour's Angela Eagle suggested it was being rushed through because the government was "desperate to get the vote out of the way" because it was worried about a backbench revolt. |
Some Conservative MPs feel uneasy about the arrest warrant which they see as a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK. | Some Conservative MPs feel uneasy about the arrest warrant which they see as a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK. |
They say UK suspects are often extradited on spurious grounds. | They say UK suspects are often extradited on spurious grounds. |
'Safe haven' | 'Safe haven' |
But a letter from 40 senior legal figures to the Daily Telegraph says the UK risks becoming a "safe haven" for foreign criminals, if MPs do not back the arrest warrant. | But a letter from 40 senior legal figures to the Daily Telegraph says the UK risks becoming a "safe haven" for foreign criminals, if MPs do not back the arrest warrant. |
European Arrest Warrants | European Arrest Warrants |
Q&A: European Arrest Warrant | Q&A: European Arrest Warrant |
The letter - which is signed by Lord Phillips, who served as president of the Supreme Court - said: "There is no credible alternative to the EAW." | The letter - which is signed by Lord Phillips, who served as president of the Supreme Court - said: "There is no credible alternative to the EAW." |
It says: "Britain can only lead reform of Europe's criminal justice co-operation by being part of the system. | It says: "Britain can only lead reform of Europe's criminal justice co-operation by being part of the system. |
"Britain also risks becoming a safe haven for fugitives from justice, a handful of them British citizens, but the vast majority foreign nationals wanted for crimes elsewhere in Europe." | "Britain also risks becoming a safe haven for fugitives from justice, a handful of them British citizens, but the vast majority foreign nationals wanted for crimes elsewhere in Europe." |
The letter also references the cases of Hussain Osman, who was convicted after trying to repeat the July 7 terror attacks in London, and Jeremy Forrest, a teacher who was jailed for abducting a schoolgirl. | The letter also references the cases of Hussain Osman, who was convicted after trying to repeat the July 7 terror attacks in London, and Jeremy Forrest, a teacher who was jailed for abducting a schoolgirl. |
"Without the EAW other EU members may be unable speedily to extradite suspects like Hussain Osman or Jeremy Forrest to Britain - both in jail after use of the EAW. Unsurprisingly, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) believes we cannot afford to lose it," the letter says. | "Without the EAW other EU members may be unable speedily to extradite suspects like Hussain Osman or Jeremy Forrest to Britain - both in jail after use of the EAW. Unsurprisingly, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) believes we cannot afford to lose it," the letter says. |
Law Society president Andrew Caplen and Sir David Edward, a former European Court of Justice judge, have also signed the letter along with Lord Justice Sir Henry Brooke. | Law Society president Andrew Caplen and Sir David Edward, a former European Court of Justice judge, have also signed the letter along with Lord Justice Sir Henry Brooke. |
Conservative backbencher Dominic Raab, who wants the UK to leave the EAW system, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One the judges' letter was a "magisterial example of the elite clubbing together to sell out the ordinary citizen". | |
He said extraditions would take longer outside the EAW, but added: "Let's be clear - that's not a public protection issue, that's an administrative convenience issue." |