Analysis - Dominic Casciani (Home affairs correspondent) So where next in the battle to banish Abu Qatada? The Home Office is keeping its powder dry - but it's pretty clear there's not much left in the barrel. Diplomats are lobbying Jordan to see if they can ensure the preacher gets a fair trial on return that doesn't include evidence obtained by torture. Secondly, the Home Office may yet appeal to the European Court's highest tier, but so could Abu Qatada on the grounds that the Strasbourg judges were wrong to say he wouldn't personally face torture. Abu Qatada's bail conditions are as onerous as they can be and he'll soon leave prison knowing his every move will be watched. The brutal reality for ministers is this: They have three months to prove that there is still a realistic chance Abu Qatada can be deported. If they can't, then judges may have to release him, because the UK doesn't do indefinite detention without charge.
Don't worry, I'm not going to launch a tirade into the unpleasant history of this guy. It's just that, for the life of me, I can't understand why the government is unwilling to physically put this person onto a plane to Jordan There continues to be public outrage at the role of European Court of Human Rights, but surely our government can put national security above all else and treat the ECHR ruling as opinion (which is what it is). What on earth can the ECHR do as enforcement? Nothing!! What's going on here?
Italy, France, Spain all seem to ignore European rulings, why do we at the UK seem hell bent on appeasing Brussels especially when our a person or organisation is a risk to the country. It is indeed a farce how the whole thing has turned out - one judge says no, another says yes, its almost like its a game to them and the only winners are lawyers.
They are trying to get an assurance that any evidence gathered against him, hasn't been extracted by means of torture to other people. Personally, I wouldn't give a damn, if they slow roast him on a candle, but the liberal elite are squeamish, and vomit at first hint of blood....
