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Terror 'priority' if Brown is PM Terror 'priority' if Brown is PM
(about 4 hours later)
The fight against terror would be Gordon Brown's "first priority" if he became prime minister, he has hinted.The fight against terror would be Gordon Brown's "first priority" if he became prime minister, he has hinted.
The chancellor also backed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair's call for tougher anti-terror powers.The chancellor also backed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair's call for tougher anti-terror powers.
Sir Ian wants phone-tap evidence usable in court and the 28-day maximum period for questioning suspects extended.Sir Ian wants phone-tap evidence usable in court and the 28-day maximum period for questioning suspects extended.
Mr Brown told the Sunday Times he "completely agreed" with Sir Ian - but he dismissed Tory calls for a full-time Cabinet terrorism minister.Mr Brown told the Sunday Times he "completely agreed" with Sir Ian - but he dismissed Tory calls for a full-time Cabinet terrorism minister.
Tory leader David Cameron told the newspaper he would appoint a minister responsible solely for combating terrorism to his Cabinet, if he became prime minister.Tory leader David Cameron told the newspaper he would appoint a minister responsible solely for combating terrorism to his Cabinet, if he became prime minister.
"Action against terrorism deserves a dedicated seat at the top table," he said."Action against terrorism deserves a dedicated seat at the top table," he said.
It is the prime minister who must take the lead Chancellor Gordon BrownIt is the prime minister who must take the lead Chancellor Gordon Brown
But Mr Brown dismissed the idea, saying: "If you are prime minister, you cannot devolve responsibility for protecting the nation.But Mr Brown dismissed the idea, saying: "If you are prime minister, you cannot devolve responsibility for protecting the nation.
"Every minister and every agency of government must take responsibility for security - each of them must play their part."Every minister and every agency of government must take responsibility for security - each of them must play their part.
"But ultimately, because the fight against terrorism must be fought both at home and abroad, it is the prime minister who must take the lead, as Tony Blair has done."But ultimately, because the fight against terrorism must be fought both at home and abroad, it is the prime minister who must take the lead, as Tony Blair has done.
"It must always be your first priority.""It must always be your first priority."
BBC political correspondent James Hardy said: "Gordon Brown never tempts fate by presuming that he'll take over from Tony Blair. But he sometimes comes pretty close."
In the newspaper interview, the chancellor had "ranged well beyond his Treasury brief to lay out his thinking on counter-terrorism", our correspondent said.
National strategyNational strategy
On Saturday, Sir Ian told the Urban Age summit in Berlin the 28-day limit for holding terror suspects needed to be reviewed in the near future.On Saturday, Sir Ian told the Urban Age summit in Berlin the 28-day limit for holding terror suspects needed to be reviewed in the near future.
He also called for phone tap evidence to be used in court, police to be allowed to question suspects after they have been charged and a ban on people covering their faces and burning flags at demonstrations to be considered.He also called for phone tap evidence to be used in court, police to be allowed to question suspects after they have been charged and a ban on people covering their faces and burning flags at demonstrations to be considered.
Mr Brown told the Sunday Times: "I completely agree with him.Mr Brown told the Sunday Times: "I completely agree with him.
"Given the scale of the threat we face, we must give the security service and the police not just the resources they need, but the powers they need to gather securely the evidence and use that evidence to gain convictions.""Given the scale of the threat we face, we must give the security service and the police not just the resources they need, but the powers they need to gather securely the evidence and use that evidence to gain convictions."
The chancellor added that if he became prime minister he would introduce an annually updated "national security strategy" to cover "conventional counter-terrorism" and the battle for "hearts and minds".The chancellor added that if he became prime minister he would introduce an annually updated "national security strategy" to cover "conventional counter-terrorism" and the battle for "hearts and minds".
His comments follow the security service's warning that the terror threat was "serious" and "growing".His comments follow the security service's warning that the terror threat was "serious" and "growing".
On Friday, MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the security service knew of 30 terror plots threatening the UK and was keeping 1,600 individuals under surveillance.On Friday, MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the security service knew of 30 terror plots threatening the UK and was keeping 1,600 individuals under surveillance.
Mr Cameron also called for a dedicated border police force, and for the planned biometric identity card system to be scrapped, with its £20bn cost spent on other security priorities.Mr Cameron also called for a dedicated border police force, and for the planned biometric identity card system to be scrapped, with its £20bn cost spent on other security priorities.