Clarke achieves terror law consensus
The government has achieved the cross-party consensus it was seeking on plans to roll-out new anti-terrorism laws.
Home secretary Charles Clarke reached an agreement in principle with his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts for legislation to be introduced to parliament in the autumn.
Mr Clarke held counsel with David Davis and Mark Oaten in a bid to broker cross-party support for the new offences of “acts preparatory to terrorism” and “providing or receiving training in the use of hazardous substances”.
The home secretary wanted a review of the existing powers of exclusion and deportation, including the right to ban visitors likely to incite terrorism.
The government was also pushing for the criminal offence to “indirectly” incite terrorism.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Clarke said: “The central message from today is a determination by all of us to legislate on counter terrorism.”
He added that the government hoped to get the new legislation onto the statute book by December.
Both the Tories and Lib Dems earlier expressed tentative support for measures ahead of seeing the full details and have now spoken of their determination to get the bill on statute books as soon as possible.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said yesterday the government was doing a good job of “crystallising” what his party was trying to do, namely “to stop people inciting young people to terrorism”.
Tory leader Mr Howard said he hoped to reach a “genuine consensus” on how to respond best to the July 7th London attacks.
But there is some caution on the speed at which the laws could be enacted.
The Blair government says the security services need the new legislation in effect as soon as possible. As such, the government is prepared to give the police and security services “any powers” needed.
Tomorrow, prime minister Tony Blair hosts a meeting with Muslim community leaders, with Tory leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy also expected to attend.
On Thursday, Mr Blair chairs a meeting in Downing Street with senior members of the intelligence agencies, the police and relevant ministers.
With parliament to rise on Thursday, the new laws will not begin their passage through parliament until after the party conference season in October unless parliament is recalled, pundits claim.
The lord chancellor, Lord Charles Falconer, told the BBC yesterday there was no freedom without proper security.
“We think we should take the measures as soon as both parliament and the police and intelligence services think it is appropriate,” he said.
“We need to get a timetable that a many people agree on as possible. We shouldn’t rush into these things as they need careful thought. But if the opposition parties and the police can reach consensus with us, then we can do it very quickly.”
