Charter for terrorists

WAS it only last week Sir Keir said human rights laws were no obstacle to tackling terrorism during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions? he should read our report on Page 1 – and hang his head.

It tells of a Jordanian, the ‘very model of a modern Al Qaeda terrorist’, who is fighting deportation after serving time for possessing jihadi manuals on how to make nail bombs and target nightclubs and airports.

Still living in the UK, with only an electronic tag to protect the public (who are not even allowed to know his identity) he inevitably claims sending him back to Jordan would infringe his human rights.

To rub salt into taxpayers’ wounds, he has claimed at least £100,000 in benefits since entering the country illegally. That’s on top of £250,000 in legal aid, granted partly to fight his deportation.

Despite Sir Keir’s denials, this is one of scores of cases of highly dangerous men who have exploited the human Rights Act to remain at liberty in Britain.

Theresa May has promised to end the HRA’s legal protection for terrorists. hung parliament or not, her pledge must be turned to action without delay.