BRING THE DRIVERS HOME pen your passport and what's inside
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the front cover? An arcane, and patently unreliable solicitation from her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requesting the bearer be offered "such assistance and protection as may be necessary". It should also add: "PS: if you're a British truck driver—you're on your own!" Are we being too harsh on the Foreign Office? It's nothing compared to what British international drivers like Steve Bryant are having to put up with in foreign jails. What we can't understand is why the FO isn't pushing for Bryant's release. The Moroccan government signed up to the International Transport Operatives Convention in 1992. Within it is the principle that a truck driver is NOT responsible for his loading or unloading. And this fact was brought out during Bryant's trial—but ignored by the Moroccan legal authorities. Moroccan law is also weighted against drivers. If you're caught with drugs on your truck it doesn't matter whether you had any knowledge of that fact, or opportunity to inspect the load. You're guilty. When New Labour swept to power last year, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook trumpeted a new, ethical, approach from the FO, including the statement that its Consular Division "regards the protection of the human rights of our nationals to be an important part of our role in defending the rights of Britons in trouble over seas. If, for any reason, we are worried local law may be in breach of international law, and this may act against the interests or human rights of British nationals, Consular Division will take action." The director of Fair Trials Abroad, Stephen Jakobi, says: "Steve Bryant's case is the most disturbing I've got." When CM recently visited Bryant in jail we were disturbed by what we saw. CM's message to the FO is simple. It's time for action. It's time to bring British lorry drivers back home.