Chaos Breaks Out In British Parliament Over European Arrest Warrant

On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to rush back from the Lord Mayor’s dinner to quell tempers in the parliament after it was revealed that the government would not allow a vote on the controversial European arrest warrant.

The BBC reported that there were scenes of chaos in the Commons chamber after a frantic attempt by the shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to move a motion for the European arrest warrant to be voted on separately.

This opposition was sparked by a move by Home Secretary Theresa May to get a vote passed on 11 EU justice measures.

The problem that Ms. Cooper and other Tory backbenchers had with the motion was that it claimed to serve as a sample of 35 specific measures which were to be voted on.

The home secretary explained the motion by indicating that only 11 of the EU justice measures needed to be voted on and transposed into UK law, telling MPs the Commons’ verdict on these measures would be treated as a vote on the whole package of 35.

This explanation, however, did not go down well with Conservative MPs who were expecting to vote on all 35 measures, according to The Independent.

The Guardian highlighted that the row comes after the government opted out of all 133 EU police and criminal justice measures in 2013, a decision that will take effect on December 1.

However, ministers plan to rejoin 35 of the measures, including the European arrest warrant, before that deadline.

Supporters, including the government and law enforcement agencies, say the warrant is a vital tool to protect the UK and bring criminals to justice across EU borders.

The Inquisitr sheds light on the use of the European arrest warrant in an earlier story indicating that one such warrant was issued for a teacher who had run off with one of his students.

The European arrest warrant is an arrest warrant valid throughout all member states of the European Union (EU). Once issued, it requires another member state to arrest and transfer a criminal suspect or sentenced person to the issuing state so that the person can be put on trial or complete a detention period.

According to The Independent, David Cameron and Theresa May came under scathing attack from across the political spectrum as they had reneged on a promise to give MPs a vote on the issue.

John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, joined the condemnation, warning ministers that the public would view their lack of straight-dealing with contempt. One Conservative MP accused the government of displaying unsupportable executive arrogance.

Labour plans to use an opposition day debate next week to give MPs a chance to vote on the European Arrest Warrant.

[Images from The Guardian and The Independent]