No more changes to terror law, Blair warns

Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that there will be no more changes to the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Bill in the Commons today.

The controversial Bill, which includes plans to introduce control orders that could see terror suspects being placed under house arrest, suffered a series of defeats in the House of Lords yesterday.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke had agreed to amend the Bill to allow judges to issue control orders concerning house arrest – the Bill originally stated that the Home Secretary would be responsible for issuing the orders.

However, in a vote at the House of Lords, the majority of peers voted in favour of judges being responsible for issuing all control orders, including the lesser ones concerning electronic tagging and bans on the use of mobile phones and the internet.

The Law Lords also voted in favour of other proposed amendments by the opposition parties, including raising the standard of proof for control orders to be issued from "reasonable grounds" for suspicion to satisfaction on the "balance of probabilities" and a requirement from the Director of Public Prosecutions that there is no reasonable prospect of successful prosecution before an order is made. The peers also voted in favour of a "sunset clause" which would see the new Bill expire in November, even if it was passed.

Mr Clarke had proposed more amendments in order to try and get the Bill passed, including the introduction of annual reviews of the Bill. He has also accepted the amendment that judges should have responsibility for issuing control orders – but he wants to retain the power to issue control orders in emergency situations, such as when there is a chance a suspect might flee the country. In these cases, Mr Clarke said, a judge would review the case within seven days.

Mr Blair told the House of Commons today that the government would not accept the amendment for changing the burden of proof, nor would they accept the 'sunset clause'. Conservative leader Michael Howard reportedly accused the Prime Minister of wanting the Bill to fail, so that he would be the only person who looked like they were trying to "get tough" on terrorism in the run-up to the likely general election.

Liberal Democrats Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten also said that, although Mr Clarke's concessions were "welcome", the party would continue to oppose the Bill unless standards of proof based on the balance of probabilities and the sunset clause were included.

The current legislation, which allows the detention of foreign terror suspects without trial and was found to be illegal by the House of Lords, will expire on Monday.

Amnesty International and Liberty, who are strongly opposed to the Bill, were planning a protest outside Parliament today. Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director, Stephen Bowen, said: "There is enormous strength of feeling throughout the country on this issue. Our demonstration will convey the simple message that detention without trial is wrong. This could be a last chance to stand firm against this draconian bill - a last chance for justice."

(KMcA/SP)