APPG in the News
On 11 April 2023, the Guardian reported that the investigatory powers commissioner identified non-compliance with the UK’s policy on torture by intelligence agencies and Ministry of Defence.
Commenting in the Independent, APPG Chair Ken Clarke says, "we mustn’t allow fear to cause us to abandon standards of freedom, liberty and human rights on which this country stands". Mr Clarke said that values had wavered since the 9/11 attacks and rise of jihadi threats, when the UK allowed a “serious lapse in our normal standards” with involvement in extraordinary rendition to Libya and other countries where people faced torture.
The FT reports APPG Chair Ken Clarke's calls for a judge-led inquiry into UK involvement in rendition and torture.
The Telegraph writes, “[Ken Clarke's] remarks add weight to calls for the Prime Minister to launch a new review…”
APPG Chair Ken Clarke writes in the FT explaining why he is calling for a judge-led inquiry into UK involvement in rendition and torture.
The FT responds to the Intelligence & Security Committee Reports on UK involvement in detainee mistreatment and rendition and says, "Calls from MPs including former home secretary Kenneth Clarke for a judge-led inquiry should also be considered."
The Guardian covers Ken Clarke's urgent question on a judge-led inquiry, following the Intelligence & Security Committee's Reports.
The Times covers the Government's response to APPG Chair Ken Clarke's urgent question on whether, following the Intelligence & Security Committee Reports, a judge-led inquiry would now be announced. The Government committed to give the matter "careful consideration".
APPG Chair Ken Clarke discusses, on Radio 4's PM programme, the Intelligence & Security Committee reports revealing shocking levels of UK involvement in rendition and torture.
Daily Mail covers APPG Chair Ken Clarke's reaction to the Intelligence & Security Commitee Reports revealing shocking levels of UK involvement in torture and rendition.
The Times covers APPG Chair Ken Clarke's renewed calls for a judge-led inquiry following the Intelligence and Security Committee reports and the news that the Committee was obstructed in its work by the Government.
The BBC covers APPG Chair Ken Clarke's response to two reports from Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, revealing much greater levels of UK involvement in rendition and torture than previously known. Ken Clarke renewed calls for a judge-led inquiry and said the ISC report's findings were "not small issues which can now be swept under the carpet - and the government must address them urgently"
The Guardian reports the APPG's calls for a new judge-led inquiry into UK involvement in rendition and torture.
The Times reports the calls from APPG Chair Ken Clarke and other cross-party MPs and Peers for a new judge-led inquiry into rendition and torture.
On 3 June 2018, the Guardian reported that UK spies may still be sharing intelligence gained by torture abroad, in breach of official guidance on this issue. The article quoted APPG Chair Ken Clarke's comment from his Conservative Home article, in which he made the point that: "The current review of the Guidance is particularly timely. With Donald Trump having pledged to reintroduce waterboarding and ‘a hell of a lot worse’, it is more important than ever that the UK has as robust a policy as possible to prevent future involvement by our intelligence services in such activities.”
On 22 May 2018, writing in Conservative Home, APPG Chair Ken Clarke calls for the government to strengthen its anti-torture policy, known as the Consolidated Guidance.
On 10 May 2018, the Guardian reports the government's apology for the UK's role in the 'appalling treatment' of Abdel Hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar. The article quotes APPG Chair Ken Clarke's comment that, "Given the fulsome nature of the apology, the question has to be asked why it has taken the government so long to settle this matter, particularly when Mr Belhaj offered to settle the case in 2013 for £3 and an apology? The delay is deeply regrettable."
On 10 May 2018, the FT reported the government's apology for the UK's role in the Belhaj Libya rendition, and quoted APPG Chair Ken Clarke's comment that he regretted the apology had taken "so many years".
On 5 November 2016, the Daily Mail reported on the APPG's correspondence with Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), over the Committee's inquiry into rendition.
On 15 March 2017, the Guardian reported on claims by lawyers representing a man who was rendered to Afghanistan and held for 10 years without trial that his capture had been a case of mistaken identity.
On 8 March 2017, Middle East Eye reported on the UK Government's application for secret hearings in the case of two Pakistani men who were rendered to Afghanistan.
On 10 February 2017, Andrew Tyrie wrote in Prospect magazine about the dangers of "secret court hearings" for open justice, and how they could stop Britain learning the lessons from its role in extraordinary rendition.
On 27 January 2017, the Washington Post reported on the questions facing the Prime Minister as she prepared to meet with President Trump, including a parliamentary question on the topic from Andrew Tyrie.
On 26 January 2017, the Financial Times reported that the Prime Minister was under pressure to stand up to President Trump over his comments on torture, including through a parliamentary question from Andrew Tyrie.
On 17 January 2017, the Guardian reported that the Supreme Court had allowed an anti-Gaddafi dissident and his wife to bring their case against the British Government over its alleged role in their rendition to Libya.
- British government suppressing key documents on allegations of UK collusion in torture and rendition
On 3 May 2016, the Independent reported on the disclosure -- as part of litigation by the APPG -- that the Foreign Office had asked the US Government not to release documents relating to the treatment of detainees.
On 2 August 2014, Andrew Tyrie published an article in the Independent calling on the UK Government to establish the scope and limits of its involvement in rendition.
On 10 December 2014, the Guardian reported on calls by Andrew Tyrie and others for Britain to hold a full inquiry into rendition, following the publication of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on the programme.
On 25 July 2016, the Guardian reported on Andrew Tyrie's letter to the Intelligence and Security Committee, following the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to bring criminal charges over renditions to Libya.
Writing in the Independent on 22 December 2013, Andrew Tyrie argued that Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee may lack the tools to get to the truth about extraordinary rendition.
On 6 July 2011, the Guardian published an article on the release of the Gibson Inquiry's terms of reference and protocol.
On 26 March 2013, the Guardian reported on a pamphlet on the Justice and Security Bill, written by Anthony Peto QC and Andrew Tyrie MP, entitled "Still Neither Just Nor Secure", which argues that the Bill will make it more difficult to uncover the truth about Britain's role in extraordinary rendition.
On 19 October 2007 The Guardian reported that the Foreign Affairs Committee was to examine allegations surrounding Diego Garcia in its forthcoming report into the Overseas Territories.
On 1 February 2008, the Independent reported on the Government's refusal to disclose information on Diego Garcia, following a request by the APPG.
On 2 February 2008, Al-Jazeera reported allegations that Diego Garcia had been used in the rendition programme. APPG Chairman Andrew Tyrie was interviewed for the report.
On 22 February 2008, the Times reported the Foreign Secretary's statement on terrorist suspects, in which he confirmed that two rendition flights had refuelled at Diego Garcia.
On 22 February 2008, the Guardian reported the Foreign Secretary's admission that two rendition flights had refuelled on the British island of Diego Garcia in 2002.
On 2 May 2008, the Independent reported on the different approaches to freedom of information in the UK and the US, citing the APPG's requests to the Ministry of Defence.
On 2 June 2008, the Guardian reported on allegations that the US had been holding detainees in ships, and that some of these ships had operated in or around the territorial waters of Diego Garcia.
On 3 June 2008 The Guardian reported the APPG's complaint to the Information Commissioner about the FCO's refusal to disclose information on Diego Garcia.
On 3 July 2008, Reuters reported the renewed specific assurances on rendition provided by the US, in response to a list of almost 400 flights sent to the US Administration by Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
On 6 July 2008, the Independent on Sunday reported that the Foreign Affairs Committee planned to scrutinise flights and shipping services from Diego Garcia, as set out in its Report on the Overseas Territories.
On 19 July 2008, the BBC reported the Foreign Affairs Committee's conclusion that the UK could no longer rely on US assurances that it does not torture its detainees.
On 31 July 2008, Time magazine reported on new allegations, made by a former senior US official, that Diego Garcia had been used by the US for holding and interrogating detainees.
On 30 August 2008, the Independent published an interview with Professor Noam Chomsky, in which he calls on the UK to use its special relationship to influence US foreign policy.
On 30 August 2008, the Independent reported on the latest ruling in Binyam Mohamed's legal fight to secure information about his rendition and alleged torture from the UK Government.
On 29 September 2008, the Guardian reported on a Legal Opinion published by the APPG, on the transfer of detainees captured by UK Forces to US authorities.
On 14 October 2008, the Guardian reported on allegations, made in a BBC report, that British officials had been involved in the interrogations of people rendered to Ethiopia from Somalia and Kenya.
On 27 January 2009 the Washington Post reported on a meeting of EU diplomats to discuss possible ways to resettle Guantanamo prisoners.
On 24 January 2009, the Guardian reported on attempts by MPs and the courts to secure disclosure of documents relevant to rendition and secret detention.