This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6715885.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Brown in terror crackdown pledge Brown plans new anti-terror laws
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has indicated he wants to strengthen anti-terrorist laws after he becomes prime minister this month. Gordon Brown is planning a raft of new anti-terror laws when he becomes prime minister this month, it has emerged.
He favours new powers for police and a fresh look at whether material from telephone tapping can be used in court. He wants new powers for police and a fresh look at whether material from telephone tapping can be used in court.
The chancellor is already known to want to revive attempts to increase the time terrorism suspects can be held without charge beyond the current 28-day limit. The chancellor also wants to revive proposals to increase the time terror suspects can be held without charge from 28 to 90 days.
But he accepts any new powers should include more parliamentary and judicial scrutiny to protect civil liberties.But he accepts any new powers should include more parliamentary and judicial scrutiny to protect civil liberties.
Mr Brown touched on some of the issues at a deputy leadership hustings event in Glasgow on Saturday. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Brown would promise to give the courts and Parliament "greater oversight" over his proposed counter-terror measures, in order to prevent clashes with the judiciary of the kind seen repeatedly in recent years.
The proposal to extend the maximum time police can question terrorism suspects from 28 to 90 days was rejected by MPs in 2005 - Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister. 'Fight'
Post-questioning interviews He is reported to be intending to ask the cross-party Privy Council to review the case for allowing intercept evidence in court.
Mr Brown is reported to be intending to ask the cross-party Privy Council to review the case for allowing intercept evidence in court. The move has until now been rejected by the government amid opposition from the security services.
Mr Brown is said to believe there could be a case for allowing it if a way could be found to protect intelligence sources.
Every time you have to strengthen the security measures that are necessary to protect our country, you also have to strengthen the accountability Gordon Brown Lords back phone taps Brown stresses 'listening'Every time you have to strengthen the security measures that are necessary to protect our country, you also have to strengthen the accountability Gordon Brown Lords back phone taps Brown stresses 'listening'
The move has until now been rejected by the government amid opposition from the security services. Mr Brown is said to believe there could be a case for allowing it if a way could be found to protect intelligence sources.
Judges might also be allowed to take account of links to terrorism as an aggravating factor in sentencing.Judges might also be allowed to take account of links to terrorism as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
And police could be given new powers to continue questioning suspects after they have been charged.And police could be given new powers to continue questioning suspects after they have been charged.
But it is the proposal to extend detention without charge that is likely to prove the most controversial.
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Simon Hughes said Mr Brown would have a "fight on his hands" if he tried to get it through Parliament again.
And he warned: "Gordon Brown must start seeking cross-party support, because if he doesn't do that, there'll be rows and parliamentary defeats in his early days for the new prime minister."
'Proper debate'
Tony Blair's attempt to introduce 90-day detention without charge in 2005 was opposed by Tories, Liberal Democrats and some Labour backbenchers.
Twenty-eight days is already the longest period to hold a person without charge in the free world. If you go beyond 28 days it is internment Shami Chakrabati, Liberty Send us your views
And Conservative sources say there is no new evidence to suggest that police need more than 28 days.
But Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman, one of six Labour MPs vying to be Mr Brown's deputy, said she thought MPs would back new laws - including 90 day detention - if Mr Brown could prove they were needed.
"I don't think there will be a huge problem if there is a proper debate about it - if evidence is brought forward about why current powers are inadequate and what the safeguards will be," she told BBC One's Sunday AM.
In a speech on Saturday, Mr Brown said stronger measures would have to be put in place to give the authorities the power to intervene at earlier stages of an investigation.In a speech on Saturday, Mr Brown said stronger measures would have to be put in place to give the authorities the power to intervene at earlier stages of an investigation.
He said: "That's why I support, for terrorists suspects, post-questioning interviewing.He said: "That's why I support, for terrorists suspects, post-questioning interviewing.
"That's why we will need to strengthen the policing resources available. But at every stage I would say this."That's why we will need to strengthen the policing resources available. But at every stage I would say this.
"Because we are a country that believes in civil liberties of the individual, every time you have to strengthen the security measures that are necessary to protect our country, you also have to strengthen the accountability to parliament and the independent oversight of what police and other authorities are doing.""Because we are a country that believes in civil liberties of the individual, every time you have to strengthen the security measures that are necessary to protect our country, you also have to strengthen the accountability to parliament and the independent oversight of what police and other authorities are doing."
Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman, one of six MPs vying to be Mr Brown's deputy when he takes over as Labour leader, said she thought MPs would back new powers - but ministers had to prove they were needed. 'Grave mistake'
"I don't think there will be a huge problem if there is a proper debate about it - if evidence is brought forward about why current powers are inadequate and what the safe guards will be," she told BBC One's Sunday AM. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, for the Conservatives, criticised the timing of Mr Brown's announcement.
She also suggested she would back extending detention without charge to 90 days, if there was evidence that it was necessary. He said: "It is extraordinary that the chancellor has chosen to publicise these proposals five days before the home secretary announces his counter-terrorism plans in Parliament.
"It does not auger well for cross-party attempts to build a consensus for counter-terrorism measures which the whole country needs to get behind."
Shami Chakrabati, director of pressure group Liberty, welcomed the phone intercept proposals but said Mr Brown was making "a grave mistake" in proposing to extend questioning without charge beyond 28 days.
"Twenty-eight days is already the longest period to hold a person without charge in the free world. If you go beyond 28 days it is internment," she told BBC News.