High Peak Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the announcement by Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, that new controls will be introduced on the export of the drug Propofol to the USA because of the risk that it might be used to carry out executions by lethal injection, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Alistair Carmichael, a long-standing campaigner against the death penalty and is a former Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, said:

"The UK has a proud record of campaigning against the death penalty overseas. Today's announcement demonstrates that the UK is taking the lead on fighting the death penalty internationally and the Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing by taking the lead on this issue within the Coalition Government.

"This position is not simply a matter of policy but also a point of principle. The death penalty undermines human dignity. There is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.

"Last year,Vince Cable introduced export controls on four drugs used in lethal injections. Extending these controls to cover propofol is the right thing to do and an important step that will help ensure that UK drugs cannot be used in executions abroad."