Liberal Democrats demand Guantanamo Bay closure on the Eve of fifth anniversary of Guantanamo Bay Opening

9.42.13am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Jan 2007

Edward Davey MP outside Downing Street on the Guantanamo Bay vigil

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Guantanamo Bay opening, Edward Davey MP attended a vigil opposite Number 10 Downing Street, which was organised by Lib Dem parliamentary colleague, Sarah Teather MP and Amnesty International.

Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton MP, joined the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ming Campbell, and over a hundred protestors to demand that Tony Blair insist the US close Guantanamo Bay so that the 8 British residents still detained can come home. Edward has been an active campaigner for the return of his constituent Bisher al-Rawi over the past four years, and last week Edward brought his campaign to parliament. On Monday 8th January, Edward secured a parliamentary debate in which he secured a plea by the Government to act in the return of Bisher al-Rawi. Along with his parliamentary colleagues, Edward has also tabled a parliamentary motion calling on the government to demand the US close Guantanamo Bay.

Commenting on the vigil, Edward Davey MP said,

"Guantanamo Bay has been excused as being a necessary evil in extreme times, yet when our fundamental beliefs of justice become swept aside, the only winners are extremists, whilst our values become trampled on to such an extent they start to be meaningless.

"After five years it is unbelievable that Guantanamo Bay still exists, let alone, that British residents continue to be detained there.

"Instead of Tony Blair desperately seeking a legacy he should try to be making amends and demand the closure of Guantanamo, so Bisher and the 7 other British Residents can come home."