Government faces revolt over secret inquest bid
Posted on March 15th, 2009
Telegraph.co.uk – United Kingdom
By David Barrett: 14 Mar 2009
The Government is facing an embarrassing revolt over controversial plans which would allow inquests to be held in secret. …
The rebellion emerged as police and security sources claimed the proposals had been drawn up at the behest of United States. …
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative MP and former infantry commanding officer, said: “My investigations with American forces have led me to believe that the only way that they were prepared to disclose full details of British casualties was if inquests could be held ‘in camera’.”
He said he believed negotiations over the measures had been influenced by a “process of attrition” between the US and the Ministry of Defence. …
