Raab ‘authorised MI6 actions with “risk of torture” then lied to MPs’

Dominic Raab authorised MI6 to hold out motion which posed a ‘actual danger of torture’ then lied to MPs saying it was ‘abhorrent’, a report revealed yesterday.

As international secretary, he sanctioned a collection of spy operations that had a danger of merciless, inhumane or degrading therapy, the intelligence and safety committee (ISC) discovered.

During his time on the Foreign Office between July 2019 and September 2021, Mr Raab authorised motion that carried an actual danger of torture on one event and signed off on three different requests that posed a danger of ‘merciless, inhumane and degrading therapy’ by a ‘international associate’.

He additionally agreed to 22 different MI6 requests that ‘carried an actual danger of different unacceptable therapy (for instance, unacceptable requirements of arrest and detention)’.

But when quizzed about whether or not he had ever signed off on any such motion, Mr Raab misled the Parliamentary committee which scrutinises spies’ work, telling them: ‘No, (I) do not do it.’

Dominic Raab (pictured) authorised MI6 to hold out motion which posed a ‘actual danger of torture’ then lied to MPs saying it was ‘abhorrent’, a report revealed yesterday

As international secretary, Raab sanctioned a collection of spy operations that had a danger of merciless, inhumane or degrading therapy, the intelligence and safety committee (ISC) discovered (MI6 Building pictured)

In a rare alternate, Mr Raab in contrast himself to a curry when questioned by the committee about his urge for food to danger relating to approving MI6 submissions involving a hazard of torture.

Mr Rabb instructed the committee: ‘I’m a spicy madras. So I wish to be actually cautious, I need them to do their job, I wish to be forward-leaning, I wish to be actually gripping the alternatives, however I do not wish to take them into vindaloo and even phaal territory which implies that I danger repercussions the day after… until we’re doing issues on a sustainable foundation, we journey up.’

Committee member Dame Diana Johnson requested: ‘Have you authorised motion the place there’s a actual danger of torture or [cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment]?’

Mr Raab answered: ‘No, [I] do not do it.’ Dame Johnson pressed him: ‘You’ve by no means carried out it in two years?’

Mr Raab stated: ‘Not with out assurances that take the chance down… there are some ethical purple traces. I do not belief torture from an efficacy perspective in addition to discovering it abhorrent from an ethical perspective. I additionally fear in regards to the reputational integrity of our companies.’

It was solely when the committee requested for written submissions after his proof in 2021 that his authorisation of missions emerged.

In a rare alternate, Mr Raab (pictured) in contrast himself to a curry when questioned by the committee about his urge for food to danger relating to approving MI6 submissions involving a hazard of torture

The report stated: ‘This is a matter of very severe concern. While the then international secretary was entitled to authorise the exercise in query, and now we have no purpose to consider that he sought actively to mislead the committee, FCDO and SIS officers – who accompanied him on the proof session – didn’t make clear his proof when given a chance.

‘The Committee remains to be involved the international secretary is given important discretion to authorise exercise which will carry an actual danger, though… there would look like adequate checks and balances within the system. Appropriate due diligence is carried out to make sure data isn’t obtained through prohibited strategies. Although we observe that this can’t be assured.’

The report gave no particulars in regards to the nature of the instances concerned which MI6 feared may pose a danger of torture by a international associate overseas.