CALLS for a public inquiry into the British government’s use of torture are long overdue, Reprieve said yesterday.

The human rights group welcomed former justice secretary Ken Clarke’s call for Prime Minister Theresa May to set up a judge-led inquiry into Britain’s use of torture in the so-called War on Terror.

Mr Clarke, who shelved plans for an inquiry due to ongoing police investigations in 2012, admitted having been wrong to block an inquiry and joined 13 other MPs and peers in calling for a full investigation.

The move comes weeks after the unprecedented apology to tortured Libyan dissident Abdul-Hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar.

Reprieve director Maya Foa said: “The only way for the UK to regain moral authority on this issue is to fully examine and expose past wrongs.

Pointing out that former PM “David Cameron promised to establish a judge-led inquiry once police investigations had concluded,” Ms Foa said: “That moment has now arrived and Ken Clarke and his colleagues are right to call on Theresa May to keep the government’s promise.”