This story from the Telegraph, if true, marks a new low-point in the descent of the current government into moral backruptcy.

Britain is seeking to convince the son of Libya’s leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, to act as an “independent” watchdog to ensure that his father’s regime does not torture terrorist suspects deported from the UK, diplomatic sources confirmed last night.

Seif al-Islam, who runs a charitable foundation, is the most prominent voice for political reform in Libya, and often acts as Col Gaddafi’s envoy to the outside world -not least in dealing with the difficult negotiations for compensation for the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

British officials said they were negotiating with the Libyan government to appoint his Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations as the “independent monitor” under the terms of a “memorandum of understanding” with Tripoli.

If this is the current thinking in government then its a wonder that Saddam’s sons, Uday and Qusay, weren’t asked to become UN Weapons Inspectors before the recent Iraq War.

Whatever next?

Perhaps the Foreign Office will shortly be suggesting that Jeb Bush should head up an investigation into allegations of US involvement in torture and the whole practice of extraordinary rendition?

hat tip: Tim Worstall