In a debate on the Overseas Operations Bill on Wednesday 23 September, Stephen expressed deep concern that torture was not excluded in the remit of the Bill, which aims to introduce a presumption against prosecution for British soldiers serving abroad.
Stephen is the Chair for the APPG for Extraordinary Rendition, which aims to stop governments ever again participating in rendition leading to torture.
Stephen said: “Torture offences must be excluded from the Overseas Operations Bill, as Ministers initially suggested, along with sexual offences which have already been excluded.”
The bill passed at second reading by 332 to 77. Labour abstained but will aim to amend the bill at committee stage to reflect such concerns.