TEATHER CHALLENGES CLARKE OVER DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL

12.32.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 24th Feb 2005

Sarah Teather has spoken out against the Government's plans for detention without trial

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather yesterday challenged the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke over detention without trial. The Brent East MP and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for London warned that detention without trial could become a recruiting route for terrorist organisations. In Northern Ireland, Internment was much hated and gave further ammunition for terrorist recruiting agents.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"Internment was one of the most hated aspects of the troubles in Northern Ireland often acting as a recruiting agent for terrorist organisations. The experiences of Northern Ireland must not be forgotten . Giving the Home Secretary the power to lock-up people without trial, without adequate scrutiny of evidence by a judge is wrong, and is likely to exacerbate the problem the Government say they want to solve. The Government must start listening to past experiences rather than steam-rolling through this bill.

"It is worrying that where the principles of justice are concerned, we can see that three successive Labour home secretaries whenever presented with a problem -- their instinctive response is authoritarian. After two terms of a Labour government where would our civil liberties be left, were there to be a third?"

Please find text of the exchange between Sarah Teather MP and Home Secretary, Charles Clarke taken from Hansard ref: 23 Feb 2005: Column 344

Sarah Teather (Brent, East) (LD): Does the Home Secretary accept that detention without trial was one of the most controversial and hated aspects of the troubles in Northern Ireland and consequently one of the most effective recruitment routes for terrorist organizations? What are the implications of the Bill for terrorist recruitment in this country?

Mr. Clarke: I do not accept the language that the hon. Lady used, but I accept that there are serious issues about the use of internment in the case that she mentioned. That is why such powers should not be used except in exceptional circumstances and after full consideration, which is precisely what I propose.