Government plans to grant immunity to ministers, spies and military implicated in overseas killings and torture

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The Tories are among MPs fighting to prevent the Government from granting immunity to British ministers, spies and servicemen for their involvement in murder and torture in overseas.

Tory top David Davis makes a series of amendments to the National Security Bill, which has alarmed human rights groups and crime activists of war.

The proposed changes, aimed at removing clauses granting statutory immunity and limiting damages for torture survivors, will be debated in the House of Commons later on Wednesday.

In a move backed by former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Opposition MPs are also trying to add a public interest defense to the Official Secrets Act to protect whistleblowers and journalists.

In a le Before the Prime Minister, a group of charities, including Reprieve, Liberty, Amnesty International UK and Freedom From Torture, questioned why the government would "seek to protect itself and its officials" from prosecution for aiding or abetting criminals. crimes abroad.

“It is inadmissible that the British government should shield ministers or officials from liability,” the letter reads.

“Without limits on activities criminal offenses included in the clause, this provision could be used to shield UK ministers and officials from prosecution where they have encouraged or aided extraordinary renditions, interrogations involving torture or unlawful targeted killings.

The bill would grant immunity from prosecution in Britain if the conduct was "necessary for the proper performance of any duty of the Security Service (MI5), Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) or GCHQ", or the armed forces.

Human rights campaigners have cited unresolved cases where the UK has been accused of providing information leading to torture, including that of Jagtar Singh Johal, who was detained in India after speaking out about abuses against the Sikh community.

Separate provisions would require judges to reduce compensation awarded in civil cases against the government, such as victims of torture, if there were "national security factors", including links to terrorism.

Former Tory Minister Davis makes amendments, backed by opposition MPs, to remove clauses on immunity from prosecution and changes to the terms of compensation.

He and M...