Today, at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Questions I asked the Minister of State for North Africa and the Middle East about the recent International Criminal Court ruling on investigating alleged war crimes in Palestine. In particular, I was interested to know how this ruling might affect vexatious claims made against British veterans by setting a precedent that non-state actors can initiate proceedings.
You can read my question, and the response, here:
Sarah Atherton:
The International Criminal Court’s controversial determination on jurisdiction relating to Israel and the Palestinians not only undermines the middle east peace process but heightens the exposure of our armed forces to vexatious claims by setting a precedent that non-state actors can initiate proceedings. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of reforms of the ICC?
James Cleverly, Minister of State for North Africa and the Middle East:
The UK respects the ICC’s independence, but we are working with other countries to bring about positive change within the court. The UK was instrumental in the establishment of the independent expert review, which reported in September, together with other state parties. Additionally, the UK is driving forward reforms to governance, prosecutorial excellence, and a more rigorous approach to budget control and value for money.
