An odd expression or two

The Telegraph reported yesterday that the British police were 'close to bringing Fletcher murderer to justice'. The paper names two Libyan men who the police think they have enough evidence to bring charges of 'conspiracy to cause death' against.

Two expressions in the article caught my eye. The first was about the two men and ran

'They have remnainded close to Colonel Gadaffi... unlikely Libya will allow them to stand trial'

So much for Libya re-joining the family of nations. Libya was a terrorist state and, oil or no oil, until they allow the perpetrators of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher to stand trial in London then they will remain a terrorist state in my eyes.

The second part that caught my eye was this:

'ask the Government to renegotiate a deal agreed by Labour which specified that any future trial would be held in Libya. "You can't get British justice in a Libyan court", said Mr Kawczynski.'

How cowardly and grasping were the last Labour government? Were they really so concerned with securing oil contracts for British companies and ensuring the future wealth of some of their senior members that they were willing to sell out the family of WPC Fletcher over and over again?