US Ambassador to UK, Sussman, pushes UK Parliament to keep "no-evidence" extradition treaty to US
One of the first commitments made by the Coalition Government was to review the operation of the Extradition Act 2003 and the US-UK Extradition Treaty to make sure that they are even-handed. This commitment was made in the context of widespread political concern about the operation of the UK's extradition arrangements with the USA. Representatives of both Coalition Parties had expressed reservations about the operation of the Treaty while in opposition. Opening an emergency debate called in 2006 by the Liberal Democrats shortly before the extradition of the "NatWest Three", Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP said. We on the Liberal Democrat Benches have objected to the extradition arrangements with the USA ever since the text of the new treaty was published in May 2003. [...] the extradition treaty and its enactment through the Extradition Act 2003 is manifestly unfair to British citizens.