Lib Dems secure key concessions on counter-terror laws
Wednesday, 28 November 2018 10:05
The Liberal Democrats have secured a number of important
concessions from the Government on its Counter-Terrorism and Border
Security Bill. Ministers hve tabled amendments to the Bill
at Report Stage in the House of Lords, to address concerns raised
by Liberal Democrat MPs and peers. These amendments would limit
some of the Bill’s impact on civil liberties, including by creating
clear defences for the new offences of travel to areas designated
by the Home Secretary and viewing...Request free trial
The Liberal Democrats have secured a number of important
concessions from the Government on its Counter-Terrorism and Border
Security Bill.
Ministers hve tabled amendments to the Bill at Report Stage
in the House of Lords, to address concerns raised by Liberal
Democrat MPs and peers. These amendments would limit some of the
Bill’s impact on civil liberties, including by creating clear
defences for the new offences of travel to areas designated by the
Home Secretary and viewing terrorism-related material online, where
someone has a reasonable excuse for doing so.
Liberal Democrat MPs opposed the Bill at Third Reading in the
House of Commons, but Labour voted with the Tories to pass it by
376 votes to 10. Liberal Democrat Peers have raised concerns about
many aspects of the Bill as it makes its way through the House of
Lords, and will continue to do so despite the Government’s
concessions.
Responding to the Government’s amendments, , Liberal Democrat Lords
spokesperson for Home Affairs, said:
“Through our opposition to these unnecessary, illiberal new
laws, we have secured important changes that will reduce the risk
of innocent people being wrongly convicted.
“However, we are still fundamentally opposed to much of the
Bill, most of which is based on the discredited ‘conveyor belt’
theory: that simply expressing extreme views inevitably leads to
radicalisation and terrorist violence.
“Completely innocent people could be arrested and detained
simply for expressing an opinion, for undertaking legitimate
research or for visiting a dangerous part of the world, even if
they had a good reason for doing so.
“It would also allow people to be detained at ports, airports
and the border area between Northern Ireland and the Republic, have
the contents of their phones and computers gone through, even if
they had no intention of committing any offence.
“We must do all we can to protect our country but not at the
cost of losing our own liberty.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Government’s amendments are here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2017-2019/0142/18142(d).pdf
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