Something is rotten in the state of Whitehall...

I said I would not put press releases up on this blog but I think this one merits it, given yesterday's news from the English High Court that the UK Serious Fraud Office decision to drop the inquiry into alleged corruption in the BAE arms contract to Saudi Arabia was unlawful.

I have previous on this one, I contacted the Justice Commissioner back last year when the decision to drop it was announced, he declined to be involved sensing a hospital pass when he saw one, but this all stinks. Hats off to the campaigners who took this to the High Court in England and won, they have performed a service to democracy and transparency good on them.

The question, of course, is what happens now? We can assume zero political will to reopen this in London, so I think it is worth trying to ask the Commission to become involved again in the light of the new judgment from the High Court.

Bad craic. I do not know if there was bribery or corruption in the arms deals to Saudi, but I know Saudi well enough. The arms trade too, being something the UK government would sooner not talk about but kind of throws into sharp relief Labours talk about an ethical foreign policy.

This one will run and run.


Press Release for immediate use 11 April 2008

ATTENTION: NEWSDESKS

SMITH CALLS FOR EUROPEAN COMMISSION INVESTIGATION INTO UK SFO BAE INQUIRY

SNP Member of the European Parliament Mr Alyn Smith has today (Friday) written again to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini urging him to become involved in the ongoing saga of the UK Serious Fraud Office and the inquiry into alleged corruption in the BAE Systems Saudi arms contracts. Mr Smith's call comes after he previously contacted the Commissioner after the SFO closed the investigation on the grounds that it was not in the public interest, but he has reiterated his call after the English High Court ruled this decision by the SFO unlawful. The Justice Commissioner at that time refused to become involved on the basis that it was a UK matter. Mr Smith was unhappy at that decision.

Speaking from Edinburgh Mr Smith said:

"I grew up in Saudi Arabia and know the place well, and know the Al Yamamah contract better than most. The UK's SFO, in my view, shamefully buckled to implicit blackmail and political pressure when the inquiry into alleged corruption was dropped, and I applaud those who secured yesterday's ruling that this decision was unlawful.

"I remember the days when the Labour government talked of an ethical foreign policy, but they soon enough forgot. If the UK does not, or is not seen to have clean hands then the UK's efforts are undermined across the Islamic world. I hope that the SFO will reopen this investigation, and in the event that corruption has taken place then those responsible should be brought blinking into the sunlight.

"However, I have little faith in the UK government, so have again contacted Commissioner Frattini urging him to become involved. The EU also has numerous high minded guides and declarations against corruption, I would hope he could be persuaded to show an interest this time round.

ENDS