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Syria drone strikes: UK attorney general refuses to disclose advice Syria drone strikes: UK attorney general refuses to disclose advice
(35 minutes later)
The attorney general has refused to disclose his advice about the legality of RAF drone strikes in Syria, citing collective cabinet responsibility and the need for law officers to give “full and frank” opinions.The attorney general has refused to disclose his advice about the legality of RAF drone strikes in Syria, citing collective cabinet responsibility and the need for law officers to give “full and frank” opinions.
Appearing before the justice select committee, Jeremy Wright QC said he acknowledged it was important in such exceptional circumstances that MPs should know that legal advice had been given, but insisted that its precise content could not be revealed.Appearing before the justice select committee, Jeremy Wright QC said he acknowledged it was important in such exceptional circumstances that MPs should know that legal advice had been given, but insisted that its precise content could not be revealed.
Asked why not, Wright said: “In part, it’s an obligation to ensure that legal advice taken by the government is as full and frank as it can be … It’s also important to take collective responsibility under cabinet government.”Asked why not, Wright said: “In part, it’s an obligation to ensure that legal advice taken by the government is as full and frank as it can be … It’s also important to take collective responsibility under cabinet government.”
The attorney general had already been scheduled to appear before the committee on Tuesday to talk about a range of justice issues before news of the drone strike was released.The attorney general had already been scheduled to appear before the committee on Tuesday to talk about a range of justice issues before news of the drone strike was released.
Two Britons, Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin, were killed in a targeted attack near the Syrian city of Raqqa on 21 August. David Cameron told the Commons last week that the attack was carried out on the grounds of self defence because the men were planning or directing attacks in the UK. Two Britons, Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin, were killed in a targeted attack near the Syrian city of Raqqa on 21 August. David Cameron told the Commons last week that the attack was carried out on the grounds of self defence because the men were planning on directing attacks in the UK.
Related: Right of self-defence central to legal debate over Syria drone strikeRelated: Right of self-defence central to legal debate over Syria drone strike
Wright said that maintaining secrecy allowed law officers not to worry that their views would eventually be published. “That doesn’t mean that there are not good circumstances when it should be disclosed that legal advice has been given,” he said. “I believe that should only happen in exceptional circumstances. I think it was exceptional given the context of intervention in Syria.”Wright said that maintaining secrecy allowed law officers not to worry that their views would eventually be published. “That doesn’t mean that there are not good circumstances when it should be disclosed that legal advice has been given,” he said. “I believe that should only happen in exceptional circumstances. I think it was exceptional given the context of intervention in Syria.”
Wright said he wanted to be helpful to MPs but he did not believe parliamentary convention had reached the point where the attorney general should give a summary or “gist” of what the legal advice had been. Wright said he wanted to be helpful to MPs but he did not believe parliamentary convention had reached the point where the attorney general should give a summary or gist of what the legal advice had been.
He said international law and ancient legal precedent allowed states to defend themselves if there was an “imminent” threat of attack. “We will have to think what imminence means in the context of the terrorism threat …,” he said. “In the 18th century you could judge it by the number of troops you could see on the horizon.” In terrorism cases, “a large amount of the evidence may be intelligence-based”. He said international law and ancient legal precedent allowed states to defend themselves if there was an imminent threat of attack. “We will have to think what imminence means in the context of the terrorism threat …” he said. “In the 18th century you could judge it by the number of troops you could see on the horizon.” In terrorism cases, “a large amount of the evidence may be intelligence-based”.
Asked whether the Crown Prosecution Service was struggling to cope with caseloads, the attorney general said it was possible more funding may be needed.Asked whether the Crown Prosecution Service was struggling to cope with caseloads, the attorney general said it was possible more funding may be needed.
While the number of burglary, robbery and driving offences being prosecuted had declined sharply in recent years, he said, there had been a marked increase in more demanding and complex cases, especially those involving terrorism and sexual offences.While the number of burglary, robbery and driving offences being prosecuted had declined sharply in recent years, he said, there had been a marked increase in more demanding and complex cases, especially those involving terrorism and sexual offences.
“Where there’s clear additional workload from something outside the CPS’s control, then I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for additional funding.”“Where there’s clear additional workload from something outside the CPS’s control, then I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for additional funding.”
His comments came amid claims in a BBC documentary that the CPS was on the brink of collapse.His comments came amid claims in a BBC documentary that the CPS was on the brink of collapse.
Earlier, the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, dismissed the report, saying: “The overall conviction rate has been maintained at more than 80% and last year we secured more convictions for sexual offences – some of the most difficult and resource-intensive cases to prosecute – than any year on record.”Earlier, the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, dismissed the report, saying: “The overall conviction rate has been maintained at more than 80% and last year we secured more convictions for sexual offences – some of the most difficult and resource-intensive cases to prosecute – than any year on record.”
But, she said, the nature of cases had changed dramatically, with unprecedented rises in terrorism and sexual offences. “This does present a challenge and that is why we are recruiting additional prosecutors to maintain our high performance under this changing landscape.”But, she said, the nature of cases had changed dramatically, with unprecedented rises in terrorism and sexual offences. “This does present a challenge and that is why we are recruiting additional prosecutors to maintain our high performance under this changing landscape.”