15 Dec 2014

Home Office did not request CIA redactions – Theresa May

Theresa May tells MPs the Home Office did not ask for any redactions from a Senate report on the CIA’s use of torture.

The home secretary was responding to questions from the home affairs select committee in the face of mounting pressure for the government to launch a new judicial inquiry into Britain’s possible role in the treatment of detainees following the 9/11 attacks.

She also denied being aware the UK had been involved in any “abhorrent” torture.

It was recently revealed the UK intelligence services requested changes in advance of a Senate report on the CIA’s use of torture.

Downing Street has insisted all redactions were made for reasons of national security but former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said it was important to establish that there had not been a move simply to hide embarrassing revelations.

Sir Malcolm, chair of the intelligence and security committee, yesterday insisted he and his colleagues would look into the torture allegations “without fear or favour”, taking advantage of new freedoms to demand evidence and call witnesses, probably including former prime minister Tony Blair.

Sir Malcolm also called on the White House to disclose to his committee what was missing from last week’s report by the US Senate intelligence committee into the CIA’s use of torture.