UK to Provide Foreign Terrorists with Freedom, Welfare Benefits

FOREIGN terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay could be released into Britain next month.

As part of new President Barack Obama’s plan to close the detention base in Cuba, America wants help to “resettle” 60 prisoners.

Some are expected to apply for asylum in the UK and could be eligible for homes, £41 a week in benefits and free NHS services — at taxpayers’ expense.
The idea that even potential al-Qaeda sympathisers could enter Britain at a time when our troops are risking their lives fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan is likely to cause outrage.
Last night the Tories demanded assurances that the safety of the British public would come first.
Mr Obama has promised to close Guantanamo as one of his first acts in office.
Whitehall sources said there was a “strong expectation” he will ask the UK to take detainees who have been cleared for release.
Some may claim they face persecution or torture if sent back to their own countries.
The Home Office would consider such applications on a case-by-case basis. But without firm evidence against them, suspects are likely to be allowed in.

The issue is a political hot potato with negotiations ongoing across Whitehall.
Once here, freed detainees could not be held without charge — and they cannot be charged as almost all the evidence against them is circumstantial or obtained “under duress”.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is likely to try to get courts to slap control orders such as curfews, house arrest and phone restrictions on them. But judges may refuse to grant any.
An insider said: “There will be questions about how and where the evidence was obtained and how reliable it was.”

No10 officials said it was premature to speculate on the issue but conceded it was something that “will have to be dealt with”.
The Government accepts Guantanamo should be shut and that the US needs help from its allies to do so.
The EU is divided on the issue with Holland ruling out taking inmates, Portugal and Germany signalling they might and France calling for a common European stance.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We have made it clear we think Guantanamo Bay should be closed and recognise the difficulties.”

Four UK nationals and four ex-residents have already been freed while two others, Binyam Mohamed and Shaker Aamer, are still in custody.
Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve and Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague both said the Government had to give “clear reassurances” that freed detainees would not be a terror threat to the British people.

It is thought those inmates of Guantanamo considered the most dangerous, including the self-confessed mastermind of 9/11, Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, will be taken to the US for trial.