Lib Dems ‘stand between government and civil liberties’
Britain needs the Liberal Democrats more than ever now to defend against the government’s “smash and grab on civil liberties”, the party warned today.
Delegates at the annual conference in Blackpool unanimously passed a motion warning that the government’s proposed anti-terrorist legislation threatens to undermine traditional freedoms, alienate minority communities and would be open to abuse.
“We stand firmly between the government and the civil liberties they want to take away from us,” said Tim Nichols, who proposed the motion.
He said plans to extend the amount of time terrorists can be detained from 14 days to three months and shut down places of worship “spoke volumes about the British government’s failure to engage” with Muslim communities in the UK.
“If the government wants to radicalise the new generation of young British Muslims, they are going about it the right way,” he warned.
The conference motion calls on the Lib Dems to oppose any attempts to amend human rights legislation, for example to make it easier to deport foreign nationals.
And Mr Nichols insisted that demanding an exit strategy from Iraq was required “to stop driving recruitment of terrorists abroad”. Sending troops into that country had done “tremendous damage” to Britain’s morale authority, he said.
Ajmal Masroor, the delegate from Haringey, told of his experiences as a Muslim in the charged atmosphere following the London attacks of July 7th.
But he insisted: “I don’t think I need to live in fear and I don’t think anyone needs to live in fear.”
He said Britain must take measures to make the country safe and secure but imposing “draconian” laws not only played “into the hands of lunatics but strengthens the hand of al-Qaida”.
Nasser Butt, chair of the Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum and a councillor in Mole Valley, also reiterated the argument that the London attacks were inextricably linked to Britain’s military action in Iraq.
But he issued a note of caution for when Lib Dem MPs took their concern about civil liberties to parliament.
“The people of this country expect us to be balanced,” he said, saying MPs have a responsibility to look after the safety of Britain’s citizens as well as their rights.
“Let’s not get carried away on civil liberties alone – we have to have a proper balance.”
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