UK may withdraw from European rights convention over Abu Qatada [View all]

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Source: Guardian

David Cameron is examining the possibility of withdrawing on a temporary basis from the European convention on human rights as the government seeks to deport the radical Islamist preacher Abu Qatada, Downing Street has confirmed.

As the home secretary, Theresa May, prepares to make a statement to MPs, the prime minister's spokesman said that the possibility of a temporary withdrawal was discussed by the prime minister and senior ministers on Tuesday.

Asked whether the prime minister would rule out withdrawing from the convention on a temporary basis, the spokesman said: "The prime minister met with the home secretary, the justice secretary and the attorney general yesterday to discuss the case. I am not going to get into specifics on the details of what the government is considering. We are going to explore every option."

The Conservatives have used the Abu Qatada case to raise the possibility of withdrawing from the convention. But they have no support from the Liberal Democrats, which means this would have to be delayed until 2015 at the earliest. The remarks by the No 10 spokesman suggest that a temporary withdrawal, as a response to the Abu Qatada case, is now under active consideration.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/apr/24/european-rights-convention-abu-qatada