LYNNE STEWART

Early day motion 56, tabled 9 May 2013 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 9 members.

That this House supports the petition signed by Desmond Tutu and many other prominent human rights campaigners and lawyers calling for the release from US prison of Lynne Stewart on compassionate grounds, bearing in mind that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer; notes that as a lawyer Lynne represented controversial, poor and often unpopular defendants, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for passing information from a client convicted of terrorist offences, which she contested, but was later re-sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment; and considers that it would be unjust and inhumane for her to be kept incarcerated to die in prison.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.