Does your MP know about Secret Evidence?
That this House believes the use of secret evidence in courts is fundamentally wrong; notes that secret evidence is evidence held by the Home Office against an individual that neither the individual, nor their legal representation, may see; further notes that in recent cases secret evidence has been used to detain individuals in prison for up to three years without charge or trial; further notes that these individuals may also be put under a control order or severe bail conditions; further believes that the use of secret evidence by the state against individuals runs entirely contrary to habeas corpus; recognises the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that detaining individuals on the basis of secret evidence is unlawful because `detainees had not been able to effectively challenge the allegations against them’; further recognises the High Court’s rulings that `everyone is entitled to the disclosure of sufficient material to enable him to answer effectively the case that is made against him’ in both control order and deportation order cases; is disappointed to learn that recent Special Immigration Appeals Court hearings have denied bail on the basis of no evidence whatsoever; and calls on the Government to respond immediately to the High Court ruling by ending the use of secret evidence in courts.
Early Day Motion 439 – tabled by Diane Abbot MP, House of Commons on 14 December 2009.
As at 29 July 2010 the following 27 MP’s have given their support to EDM 439.
Is your MP on the above list?
No, then write and ask them for their views on the use of secret evidence. If your MP is standing down at the next election, do you know the views of their potential successor?
Click here to find out your MP’s contact details or you can contact Caitlin Farrow (farrowc@parliament.uk), Media Officer for Diane Abbott who may also be able to help you.
A similar motion, EDM 1308 was tabled during the 2008-2009 session of parliament and supported by the 93 MP’s listed below.
| Alan Simpson Alasdair McDonnell Andrew Dismore Andrew George Andrew Mackinlay Andrew Stunell Angus MacNeil Angus Robertson Ann Cryer Bill Etherington Bill Olner Chris Huhne Chris McCafferty Clare Short Colin Breed Colin Challen Dai Davies Dai Havard Daniel Rogerson David Chaytor David Davis David Drew David Heyes David Howarth David Lepper David Taylor David Wilshire Desmond Turner Diane Abbott Don Foster Doug Naysmith Elfyn Llwyd Eric Illsley |
Frank Cook Gavin Strang George Galloway Glenda Jackson Greg Mulholland Harry Cohen Ian Gibson ‡ Jenny Willott Jeremy Corbyn Jim Devine Jim Dowd Jo Swinson John Austin John Hemming John Leech John Mason John McDonnell Julia Goldsworthy Julie Morgan Kate Hoey Katy Clark Kelvin Hopkins Linda Riordan Lindsay Hoyle Lorely Burt Lynne Featherstone Lynne Jones Mark Durkan Mark Lazarowicz Martin Caton Martin Horwood Matthew Taylor Michael Clapham |
Mike Hancock Mike Weir Mohammad Sarwar Neil Gerrard Nick Harvey Norman Baker Norman Lamb Patrick Hall Paul Flynn Paul Holmes Paul Keetch Paul Rowen Paul Truswell Pete Wishart Peter Bottomley Richard Taylor Robert Marshall-Andrews Robert N Wareing Rudi Vis Sarah Teather Simon Hughes Stephen Williams Stewart Hosie Susan Kramer Tom Brake Vincent Cable Willie Rennie |
‡ Ian Gibson resigned on 5 June 2009 with immediate effect as Member of Parliament for Norwich North.
