letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

22 September 2005

no related press release

Local and national presses

Sir,

With the return of London bombing suspect Hussain Osman to our shores today, it's time for the Tories to rethink their stand on the European arrest warrant.

Without this crucial EU-wide agreement, it would have taken years for Britain to secure Mr Osman's extradition from Rome.

So perhaps the Tories could explain why they so violently opposed this measure when it was first introduced? Was this yet another case of anti-European posturing in an attempt to appeal to the eurosceptic fringe—or did they have genuine doubts about its effectiveness?

If the latter, no doubt they will now be quick to admit their error and clarify their revised position on European judicial co-operation?

Richard Corbett
Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber