'Unequal' US treaty under fire

'Unequal' US treaty under fire

David Leigh
Wednesday July 23, 2003
The Guardian

The Liberal Democrats are to challenge the "unequal" extradition treaty which the home secretary, David Blunkett, has signed with the US, allowing Britons to be extradited there without evidence that they have committed any crimes.

The US refuses to extradite its own citizens to Britain without prima facie evidence of guilt, but has demanded Britain drop its own safeguards.

The Liberal Democrats will propose a motion in the Lords against the order in council bringing the treaty into force, although it is unlikely to succeed without Conservative support.

If the order is voted down by one house, the treaty will fall. Lord Goodhart, Lib Dem spokesman on constitutional affairs, said: "This treaty is pretty monstrous on two grounds. There are very low standards in some US state courts such as Texas. And the US didn't ought to do this on a non-reciprocal basis." (snip/...)

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1003904,00.html

There are very low standards in some US state courts such as Texas.


*snarf*

.

welcome to the Empire!

All of her people are now subjects of the American empire... perhaps someday the UK will become the 51st state.