MP backs Icelanders' petition

By [gjones] gareth parry-jones gareth.parry-jones@gsmg.co.uk

AN Icelandic petition criticising the UK's handling of the banking crisis has been presented to Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell.

Signed by a quarter of Iceland's 319,756 population, the petition slams the Government's use of anti-terror legislation to confiscate assets in Icelandic banks.

During the height of the banking collapse, a "freezing order", under the 2001 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, was issued on an estimated £4-billion worth of British financial assets in the country.

Mr Mitchell, chairman of the British Icelandic Group, said this reaction, which has resulted in Iceland being labelled a terrorist state, was "heavy handed".

Receiving the petition from a 20-strong Icelandic delegation on Tuesday, Mr Mitchell said: "I congratulate you as Icelanders in getting such strong backing for this petition, which I strongly support.

"My feeling is that the British Government used anti-terrorist legislation because it used the only weapon at hand to stop the money invested in the banks from being drained away."

In January this year, the Icelandic Government announced it may sue Britain in the European Court of Human Rights for the "wrongful and unjustified" use of the act.

Cleethorpes MP Shona McIsaac is hosting an event for former Icelandic water trawlermen to find out more about Government's recently- announced extension to their compensation scheme. It is taking place tomorrow at Grimsby's Fishing Heritage Centre – phone Shona on (01469) 574324 or (01472) 696342 for details.