May signs Jordan Qatada treaty

The Home Secretary Theresa May has said she had signed "fair trial guarantees" with Jordan that she believes will reassure British courts that torture evidence would not be used against Abu Qatada, allowing his deportation from the UK.

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PM 'prepared to consider all options' to deport Qatada

Asked if the option of temporary withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights was currently under consideration, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said:

As the Home Secretary was setting out, there are two things that the Government is very clearly and actively taking forward. There is the treaty-related process and there is the seeking of permission to appeal from the Supreme Court.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to consider all options should that be necessary? Absolutely, yes... This is a very dangerous individual. I think people would rightly expect that, should it be necessary, consideration is given to all options.

The Government believes the treaty will deliver the protections required by Siac (the Special Immigration Appeals Commission) to secure Qatada's deportation.

May: ECHR withdrawal over Qatada 'option on the table'

When asked if a temporary withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights was a possibility, to help facilitate the deportation of Abu Qatada, Mrs May said:

We should have all options - including leaving the convention altogether - on the table. The Prime Minister is looking at all the options. That is the only sensible thing to do.

Read more: May signs Jordan Qatada treaty

Labour welcomes Government moves over Qatada

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has said she welcomes the work the Home Secretary is continuing to do to get Abu Qatada deported and the further assurances sought from Jordan.

However, she added: "She will know that the history of Home Office problems in this area mean that serious questions remain.

Yvette Cooper cautiously welcomed the new treaty between the UK and Jordan.

"The question for the house and the Court will be whether it meets the specific test that the court has set".

"We wish her well with this mutual legal assistance treaty and we hope that it will work.

Mrs Cooper also suggested a debate and vote should be held to "demonstrate the strength of support there is across this house".

Read: New UK-Jordan treaty over Qatada deportation

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Home Secretary signing Qatada treaty with Jordan

The Home Secretary with the Jordanian Ambassador to the UK Credit: Home Office

The Home Office has released a picture of the Home Secretary Theresa May signing the treaty with the Jordanian Ambassador to the UK, Mazen Homoud, that she hopes will facilitate Abu Hamza's deportation.

Read more: May: UK-Jordan agreement includes fair trial guarantees

UK-Jordan agreement includes fair trial guarantees

A new agreement between the UK government and Jordan also includes a number of fair trial guarantees which will apply to anyone deported from either country, the Home Secretary has confirmed.

Home Secretary Theresa May addresses the House of Commons.

Theresa May said: "I believe these guarantees will provide the courts with the assurance that [Abu] Qatada will not face evidence that might have been obtained by torture in a retrial in Jordan".

Yesterday, the Government was refused permission to take to the Supreme Court its fight to remove Qatada from the UK.

In March, the Court of Appeal backed an earlier ruling that the radical cleric could not be deported over fears that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him.

Read: May rebuffed in bid to take Qatada case to Supreme Court

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