Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has said that Home Secretary Theresa May's statement on the Abu Qatada deportation "seems quite sound... she could well be proved right".

Government lawyers have written to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to insist it should not hear an appeal by Abu Qatada against his deportation.

The Home Office said the deadline for an appeal passed before the application was submitted, but the cleric's lawyers and the court said it was later.

Speaking to Today presenter John Humphrys, Mr Clarke said he was not sure what the "big deal" was, as Mrs May had made it clear that the process could take many months come what may.

Listen to the full interview

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