Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Ministers mull dramatic measures to succeed in Qatada battle

When Theresa May makes her statement on Abu Qatada to MPs today, she will be expected to give further details on plans reportedly mooted by the Prime Minister to temporarily withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights. This is a high-risk strategy for two reasons. The first is that by so clearly involving himself in the process, the Prime Minister risks being damaged by the fallout from another failed attempt to get Qatada out. The second is that a temporary withdrawal from the Convention, even to remove a hate preacher than all agree should have left this country long ago, will send Cameron’s Liberal Democrat coalition partners into orbit. The PM held a meeting with May, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and the Attorney General Dominic Grieve yesterday. But though Nick Clegg has himself promised that Qatada will be deported, he will also have plenty to say about this latest plan.

More broadly, Tory MPs are now waiting on the government to introduce primary legislation on the deportation of foreign criminals.

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