Tories’ new counter-terror plans undermine civil liberties

Responding to the Government's announcement of new counter-terror legislation, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

"If you could stop terrorism by passing illiberal new laws, the Conservatives would have ended it ages ago.

"It's less than a year since the Conservatives passed their last piece of unnecessary, reactionary legislation in the name of combatting terrorism, and they're already proposing another one.

"We need policies based on evidence, not cheap headlines. Judges already have the power to lock up terrorists for life; tying their hands with mandatory minimum sentences simply won't help. And polygraphs simply aren't accurate or reliable enough for such critical decisions.

"Liberal Democrats will always stand up for human rights and civil liberties. We will continue to oppose authoritarian laws that do little to make us safer, but a lot to undermine essential British freedoms."