Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has called on the Government to ensure that it delivers compensation for the UK`s victims of Libyan sponsored terrorism before agreeing to Libya’s request to the United Nations for the release of assets currently frozen in the United Kingdom. This follows a letter from law firm McCue & Partners to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab MP.

Lord Empey said:

“Once again Libya is asking the United Nations to release assets to the Libyan Investment Authority which are currently frozen in London. There are over £12 billion of Libyan assets in London alone.

“This request is no surprise. What passes for a government in Tripoli is fighting a rival government based in Benghazi, and different powers in the region are fighting a proxy war using local militias to pursue their interests.

“However, this request creates an opportunity for the United Kingdom Government. With a veto at the UN Security Council, the UK's support is required for these assets to be released. The question is, will London take a stand on behalf of the victims of Gaddafi fuelled terrorism and insist on a deal with Libya to compensate our victims, just as other countries have done, or will they cave in and once again throw our victims to the wolves? The Foreign Office has shown no sign so far of wishing to use our power to seek an acceptable deal.

“I have never understood London's approach to this issue. They have hidden behind the efforts of law firm McCue & Partners who represent many of the victims as they try to take private cases against the state of Libya to seek compensation. The letter from McCue & Partners to the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab MP, highlights another opportunity for the Government to do what is right.

“I have often concluded that there was some kind of deal done during the Blair era which has led to the present-day refusal of London to work hard on behalf of the victims. The disclosure two weeks ago, in answer to my Parliamentary Question, that the Report of the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative on Libya, William Shawcross, may or may not be released sends a worrying signal.

“Twice I have steered a Private Member's Bill through the House of Lords designed to control the frozen assets, for it to fail in the House of Commons because 1) it was deliberately obstructed and 2) last year because of the dissolution of Parliament for the General Election.

“If the Government does not get itself some backbone and fight for the interests of the victims of Libyan sponsored terrorism, it will be a huge betrayal of thousands of people. The IRA's campaign would have ended years earlier had it not been for the supply of Libyan Semtex and weaponry. I sincerely hope that Boris Johnson will not be the Prime Minister that sells IRA victims down the river.”