Demonstrators gather at Belmarsh Prison,
London in October 2004, as law lords prepare to review the government's
new legal proposals regarding protection of human rights and
evidence extracted under torture
(PA/EMPEGS)
What do the parties say?
Tony Blair is a loyal ally of George Bush in the war on terror
– which means fighting terrorism at home as well as attacking
Iraq. As early as 2000, Labour passed the Terrorism Act, which
classes threatening letters as ‘terrorism’. Then came the 2001
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act, which let the government
lock up foreigners without trial. The courts have now thrown this
out, and the government has proposed a new Prevention of Terrorism
Act. This could allow anyone – foreign or British – to be watched,
denied phone or net access, or locked up in their home if the
government says they are involved in terrorism. They would not
be put on trial or even shown the evidence against them.
The Conservatives have always taken a hard line on law and order,
while the Liberal Democrats have been particularly strong on civil
liberties. However, the government’s proposed new powers have
been attacked by the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives,
the UK Independence Party and the BNP, among others. Blair’s response
to his critics is to argue that ‘there is no greater civil liberty
than to live free from terrorist attack’. Less important liberties
need to take second place. |
