SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOUR OF GOVERNMENT EXPOSED THANKS TO S.F.O. RULING - HOWARTH

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Apr 2008

Lib Dem Shadow Justice Minister David Howarth welcomed the High Court ruling in the SFO case. The High Court ruled that the Serious Fraud Office acted unlawfully by dropping a corruption inquiry into a £43bn Saudi arms deal.

Commenting on the ruling, David Howarth MP said:

"This ruling exposes a scandalous behaviour of the Government interfering with the rule of the law and giving in to pressure from Saudi Arabia to cover up corruption.

"This whole episode had a bad impact on the UK's international reputation and the ruling will fortunately fix it. It shows the primacy of the law over political considerations.

"I'm delighted that I was able to play a part in the process."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. David Howarth MP was quoted in paragraph 92 of the ruling.