Do as we say

We used to think the UK stood for the rule of law, at home and abroad. Read on.

The law

Under section 109 of the 2001 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act a UK national or company commits an offence if he, she or it does anything in a country or territory outside the UK, and the act would if done in the UK constitute a corruption offence, specifically including bribery.

The risk

"Corruption in Kenya is increasing the UK's exposure to drug trafficking and terrorism, Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has warned. The East African nation's ‘porous’ borders meant groups such as al-Qaeda see it as being ‘wide open’, he added” (reported by the BBC, 10^th November 2006).

The rhetoric

“As part of most of our activities in Africa, we work with governments and civil society to tackle corruption, strengthen the means of democracy and build states that are accountable to their people” (Hilary Benn, Hansard, 9th March 2005).

"The UK will be looking for agreement on better handling of corrupt assets in the international system when it meets international partners at a UN anti-corruption conference. The inaugural conference of states parties to the UN Convention against Corruption takes place from 10-14 December in Jordan and will aim to agree further steps to fight the scourge of corruption. The UK will also be pushing for greater emphasis on measures to prevent corruption, better international law enforcement cooperation and proposals to oversee the convention's effective implementation (DFID press release, 9th December 2006).

The allegation

"An extensive network of political influence wielded by arms companies over New Labour policy-making is highlighted by new revelations that Tony Blair has held secret talks with Saudi Arabia in pursuit of a £40bn arms deal, against dissent from the Foreign Office and the Serious Fraud Office. Recent research by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade has revealed the full extent of a wider web of civil service appointments, donations and advisory bodies. Through these connections arms companies exert an influence at the heart of government policy-making unmatched by any other industry, campaigners say” (Campaign Against the Arms Trade, 27^th September 2005).

The practice 

"A major criminal investigation into alleged corruption by the arms company BAe Systems and its executives was stopped in its tracks yesterday when the prime minister claimed it would endanger Britain's security if the inquiry was allowed to continue … Lord Goldsmith consulted the prime minister, the defence secretary, foreign secretary, and the intelligence services, and they decided that 'the wider public interest' 'outweighed the need to maintain the rule of law'" (Guardian, 15^th December 2006).