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Wednesday 9th May 2012 | 16:34
Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on Abu Qatada today, said:
“It is very welcome that Abu Qatada's application has been rejected. We all want Abu Qatada to be deported and stand fair trial in Jordan as soon as possible. We hope that can be hastened now, based on the agreement secured by the previous Government and the new assurances the Home Secretary says she has received.
“However, it is shocking that the Court has confirmed the Home Secretary got the date wrong, and took an unacceptable risk with this serious case. Theresa May was adamant in the House of Commons that she got the date of appeal right even though she had been warned by the court and by the media.
“We are all very lucky that the Home Secretary’s major mistake has not led to Qatada’s application for appeal being granted. Now is the time for Theresa May to apologise for such a potentially catastrophic error of judgement and answer questions as to what led her to make this mistake and why she was adamant she was right. The Government has shown very worrying incompetence and recklessness in dealing with Abu Qatada. This cannot be allowed to happen again, and the Government needs to show action will be taken to ensure it does not.”