IN the House of Commons (July 12) concerns were raised that three British subjects were being extradited to the States without them being allowed to put up a defence.
Our MP, Anne Snelgrove, claimed that the human rights conditions were met in the various courts that those gentlemen have been through in this country.
The rules, as she is aware, are that the United States do not have to submit any prima facie case that any crime has been committed let alone that the people in question are connected with it. All they have to do is find a Sheriff who is prepared to sign a warrant.
This means that the only grounds for appeal are that the paperwork was not right.
This is a serious point because the United States is not a signatory to the Convention on Human Rights. The NatWest Three are only the tip of the iceberg. Many other extradition cases are in the pipeline and will be decided under this unfair treaty unless the Government acts now.
We do not need an MP who just goes along with the Government. We need someone such as Julia Drown, who was prepared to think for herself and act on our behalf.
I suppose the only saving grace is that although the Government benches all cried "No" at the end of the debate, Michael Wills and Anne Snelgrove both abstained.
T HUDSON Penhill, Swindon
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