CLAIMS OF ILLEGAL SPYING BY THE UK GOVERNMENT ON THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Early day motion 743, tabled 2 March 2004 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 10 members.

That this House notes the remarks by the Right honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on the BBC Today programme that the UK Government engaged in spying and telephone tapping of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan; further notes that this is illegal under Article II, Section 3, of the 1946 General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN, which prohibits any form of interference with the property and assets of the UN; supports the stance taken by sacked GCHQ employee Katharine Gun in exposing spying on the UN missions of six countries, as part of the failed US/UK effort to secure a resolution authorising war in Iraq, which is illegal under Article 27 (1) of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; believes that it is a charge of the utmost seriousness that agencies acting under the instruction and authority of the UK Government engaged in unlawful wiretapping of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; and calls on the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate those who carried out and instructed these illegal activities.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1.