The ex Chairman of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) attacked Clive Stafford Smith on the Today programme this morning. Dr Howells thought it, 'disgraceful' to attack the appointment of Sir Peter Gibson to run the inquiry into collusion with torture. He also thought it was typical of organisations like the one run by Stafford Smith to use smear tactics to help get their clients off.
His vehemence was quite astonishing and totally over the top. Whatever was behind his outburst? Methinks he protesteth too much. An article in the Daily Mail today provided a clue.
"In a letter to the judge, Clive Stafford Smith, a director of Reprieve, said there was a danger of bias that could wreck the inquiry.
He told the Mail: 'In an inquiry that is meant to assess the adequacy of past policies, Sir Peter Gibson should be a witness before it, rather than its judge.
'He needs to consider whether he can continue to act with the confidence of both the public, and the alleged victims of complicity in torture, with independence and impartiality.'
David Cameron made Sir Peter head of the inquiry earlier this month, saying his familiarity with the issues made him the best man for the job.
He will sit on a panel with Dame Janet Paraskeva and former journalist Peter Riddell.
The Reprieve letter details Sir Peter's close links to the security services during four years in which allegations of complicity in torture have mounted.
Most serious is the suggestion that he has already conducted hearings in private, suggesting he has prejudged the issues.
At a hearing in February, Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger ruled that members of MI5 had a dubious record on the mistreatment of detainees and 'an interest in the suppression of such information'.
But during his four years as Intelligence Commissioner, Sir Peter drew no such conclusions - at least not in the very brief published versions of his annual reports to Downing Street.
In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Sir Peter claimed he had 'experienced the fullest possible co-operation' from British spies, who he concluded were 'trustworthy, conscientious and dependable'. In his letter, Mr Stafford Smith said: 'The allegation that you will have to rule on is that you were either asleep on your watch or were hoodwinked.'
In his letter to Sir Peter, copied to the Prime Minister, Mr Stafford Smith wrote: 'You cannot now conduct a further independent inquiry having already reached conclusions on some or all of the issues.
'A fair-minded member of the public would see that as acting as a judge in an appeal against your own decision.' D.Mail 20/07/2010
Seems reasonable. However Dr Howells thought it disgraceful. Why? Has he been got at? Having been a left-wing firebrand in his youth perhaps there are skeletons which the spooks have dug up? Or maybe there is another reason? Dr Howells was a junior Minister at the Foreign Office when many of these alleged abuses occurred. So is this bluster and rage based on the fear that 'Hail Fellow Howells' is in fact soiling himself at the prospect of a full and rigorous inquiry? New Labour had an appalling civil liberties record. Just how bad is becoming clearer by the day. Among Ministers who were responsible were the egregious duplicitous Straw and Miliband the elder. They have fought tooth and nail to stop information coming out. Are we to add Howells to this infamous list?
Clive Stafford Smith sticks up for the victims of government abuse and has been right throughout this sorry tale to date. He is a trusted figure. Dr Howells on the other hand…..
No comments:
Post a Comment