Boris Johnson 'had doubts' about 'IS Beatles' death penalty plan
3 min read
Boris Johnson questioned the Government's decision not to press for guarantees that two British-born jihadist fighters would be spared the death penalty in the United States, it has emerged.
The then-foreign secretary believed that waiving the UK's longstanding opposition to execution in the cases of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh could undermine future requests for guarantees.
However, documents reveal that he ultimately sided with the controversial plan.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid last month wrote to US attorney general Jeff Sessions making clear that he would not seek assurances that the two men - members of the notorious Islamic State cell from west London dubbed ‘the Beatles’ - would be spared execution if they are tried in America.
However, according to an internal briefing document handed to the Telegraph - and circulated in Whitehall on the same day as the Home Secretary's letter to the US - Mr Johnson expressed doubts about the move, before backing it.
"The Foreign Secretary considers that not seeking assurances … could damage our ability to secure adequate assurances from the US and other countries in future, but agrees that the benefits outweigh the risks in this instance," the briefing note says.
The admission that the exemption could harm UK interests is likely to be seized on by critics, who fear the shift in policy could set a dangerous precedent.
Security Minister Ben Wallace defended the plan in the House of Commons yesterday, arguing that a push for assurances could "get in the way" of the case going to trial.
He told MPs: "We risk being seen as hypocrites if we say that we will never make an exception for assurances, while being prepared to use lethal force on the battlefield to kill people without due process. That is the balance that we always have to strike. It is not easy, but we do it to try to keep people safe."
But Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve said key questions would “continue to haunt” the Government if they are left unanswered and said seeking the assurances would have been “perfectly proper”.
Fellow Tory and ex-international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said: "On human rights we cannot distinguish between good and bad people. Human rights are indivisible and belong to everybody."
Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott meanwhile branded the decision “abhorrent and shameful”, while Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper accused the Government of having "ripped up" its principles.
Downing Street initially refused to say whether Theresa May backed the controversial call, but later threw its weight behind ministers' handling of the case.
"The ultimate aim for all of us is to ensure these men are brought to justice," the Prime Minister's spokesperson said.
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