Tory MP Bob Stewart says torture 'might sometimes work and be justified'
Former Army colonel says techniques like sleep and food deprivation could be acceptable in certain situations
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Torture is sometimes "justified" and can work as an interrogation method, a senior Conservative MP has said.
Former army officer Bob Stewart said he had been "kind of a torturer" when he was posted to Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
It comes after US President Donald Trump used his first television interview since coming to office to indicate his support for waterboarding.
He is understood to be preparing to order a review of interrogation methods and the possible reopening of "black site" prisons outside the US.
The former Army colonel said he opposed waterboarding but techniques like sleep and food deprivation could be acceptable in certain situations.
He told Emma Barnett on BBC 5 Live: "We don't like torture. No one likes torture. Not even Trump likes torture. But the fact of the matter is... sometimes it might work, and sometimes it might be justified.
"I don't agree with waterboarding but a certain amount of persuasion might be justified if someone for example had the knowledge about where a nuclear weapon that was going to explode in London was," he added.
"That is where I suggest that people might say a certain amount of persuasion could be justified. I'm qualifying it all the way through.
"In circumstances where a great number of people, or indeed one person, is going to be killed, you have to think very carefully about what pressure you can put on people in order to give that information to stop peoples' lives being lost."
Asked about the types of torture techniques that might be suitable in those situations, he replied: "Sleep deprivation. Lack of food. Perhaps, as I've done, showing people pictures of their friends that have been blown up. That sort of thing."
Mr Stewart completed seven operational tours of Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
He told the programme: "Technically as you look at it today I was a kind of a torturer.
"Of course it was acceptable then. It's now unacceptable and now it's defined as torture."
Press Association
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments