Rudd ‘does not recall’ death penalty talks

AMBER RUDD, the former home secretary, is “perplexed” by her successor’s failure to demand that two “Beatles” jihadists will not be executed, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.

Ms Rudd does not recall any discussion about waiving death penalty assurances in the case of Alexanda Kotey and Shafee El-sheikh while in office.

It is also understood she does not recall seeing any legal advice about giving intelligence to US prosecutors on the pair while not seeking that they avoid capital punishment.

The revelation raises questions about the speed with which Sajid Javid, who replaced Ms Rudd, approved the decision with Boris Johnson, then foreign secretary. Ms Rudd resigned on April 30. Mr Javid wrote to Jeff Sessions, the US attorney general, announcing the decision on June 22.

Ms Rudd is understood to be reluctant to speak out on the matter, but is “perplexed” by the move and wants more information to understand how it can be justified.

Ms Rudd declined to comment.