Ukip leader Paul Nuttall says he agrees with US President Donald Trump over the use of torture techniques
The MEP said that he can see why waterboarding could be effective
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has said that he agrees with Donald Trump over the use of torture.
The MEP said that he can see why waterboarding could be effective.
As Theresa May gears up to meet President Trump today, Mr Nuttall has weighed in to the debate on the use of controversial torture techniques.
The Ukip leader said today as he launched his by-election campaign in Stoke Central, that "sometimes you have to fight fire with fire," words used by the US President earlier this week.
He told Sky News: "If waterboarding ensures that it saves a number of lives in this country, or in America, because someone admits that something is going to happen in terms of a terrorist attack... Through gritted teeth, I'd probably be OK with it."
He added: "I think that these people are incarcerated because they are bad people, OK, and they want to do us harm."
Waterboarding, a controversial method of torture where the participant is made to feel like they are drowning, is currently illegal in the UK and the US.
As Mrs May flew over to the US to meet the new President, she again condemned the use of torture.
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But President Trump said in an interview earlier this week that it "absolutely works".
He told ABC News: "When they're shooting, when they're chopping off the heads of our people, and other people, when they're chopping off the heads of people because they happen to be a Christian in the Middle East, when ISIS is doing things that nobody has ever heard of since medieval times, would I feel strongly about waterboarding?
"As far as I'm concerned we have to fight fire with fire."
Harry Potter author JK Rowling sent a message warning Mrs May that history will judge the stance she takes towards the controversial politician in her historic first meeting with him.
In a tweet sent as Mrs May left the UK the vocal critic of Mr Trump, who has voiced concern over his executive order around abortion this week, she wrote: “History’s watching, Theresa.”
Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron said Ukip were trashing Britain's reputation.
He said: "There should be no ifs, no buts, torture is abhorrent.
"UKIP are seeking to trash our proud values in a desperate bid for cheap votes. Shame on them. Britain is better than that, which is why they will fail.
"Great Britain is Great because we are a beacon of justice, decency and the rule of law. Our reputation around the world is richer for these values and I will defend them with every bone in my body."