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24 January 2011
Last updated at 09:13 ET
The government is not dealing with measures to stop terrorists in a "sensible" way, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has said.
Ms Cooper, who was installed in the job during last week's Labour reshuffle, accused the coalition of delaying new laws to deal with emergency situations.
She urged ministers to "protect national security".
Ms Cooper is currently facing Home Secretary Theresa May for the first time in the Commons.
Her comments come ahead of the government's statement on the replacement of control orders, which is expected later this week.
'Went too far' The orders allow ministers to place a terrorism suspect under close supervision that some say is similar to house arrest.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the replacement regime was expected to keep powers to tag suspects electronically and to replace curfew requirements with demands to remain in a certain property overnight. He added that it was a "moot point" whether this really meant an end to curfews.
Opponents of control orders, introduced by Labour in 2005, say they infringe civil liberties, but supporters argue they are necessary to protect the public.
The Lib Dem manifesto pledged to get rid of the "house arrest" element and there have reportedly been heated discussions between the party and the Conservatives over the issue.
Ms Cooper said the government had taken too long in bringing in plans for a replacement, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One: "In an ideal world we wouldn't have control orders... We are very happy [to get rid of them] if there are better ways of doing control orders and we are very ready to look at that and see the evidence."
Ms Cooper was also asked about the government's intention of reducing the maximum length of time a terror suspect can be held without charge from 28 to 14 days. The existing law is due to lapse at midnight, meaning an automatic reversion to the lower limit.
Ms Cooper accused ministers of not having emergency legislation to hand to deal with future crises.
But the Home Office said the wording of the Terrorism Act of 2006 meant that the 28-day limit could be re-triggered if necessary.
The shadow home secretary admitted that the previous Labour government's failed plans to extend the length of time terror suspects can be held had been wrong, saying: "Some of the things we did like the proposals for 90 days, even 42 days, were going too far. I don't think that was the right approach."
She also said: "What we want here is a responsible debate about this. At the moment we've got a counter-terrorism review that's been so delayed by political wrangling within the government between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats that we are getting the results of the review after the old powers have fallen.
"That seems to me like irresponsible timing. It's not sensible as a way to approach national security."
She added: "What's been of concern is the different briefings that we've had... We have to make sure we protect national security."
Ms Cooper was made shadow home secretary in last week's Labour reshuffle prompted by the resignation of shadow chancellor Alan Johnson. She replaced husband Ed Balls, who himself replaced Mr Johnson.
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Ms Cooper, who was installed in the job during last week's Labour reshuffle, accused the coalition of delaying new laws to deal with emergency situations.
She urged ministers to "protect national security".
Ms Cooper is currently facing Home Secretary Theresa May for the first time in the Commons.
Her comments come ahead of the government's statement on the replacement of control orders, which is expected later this week.
'Went too far' The orders allow ministers to place a terrorism suspect under close supervision that some say is similar to house arrest.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the replacement regime was expected to keep powers to tag suspects electronically and to replace curfew requirements with demands to remain in a certain property overnight. He added that it was a "moot point" whether this really meant an end to curfews.
Opponents of control orders, introduced by Labour in 2005, say they infringe civil liberties, but supporters argue they are necessary to protect the public.
The Lib Dem manifesto pledged to get rid of the "house arrest" element and there have reportedly been heated discussions between the party and the Conservatives over the issue.
Ms Cooper said the government had taken too long in bringing in plans for a replacement, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One: "In an ideal world we wouldn't have control orders... We are very happy [to get rid of them] if there are better ways of doing control orders and we are very ready to look at that and see the evidence."
Ms Cooper was also asked about the government's intention of reducing the maximum length of time a terror suspect can be held without charge from 28 to 14 days. The existing law is due to lapse at midnight, meaning an automatic reversion to the lower limit.
Ms Cooper accused ministers of not having emergency legislation to hand to deal with future crises.
But the Home Office said the wording of the Terrorism Act of 2006 meant that the 28-day limit could be re-triggered if necessary.
The shadow home secretary admitted that the previous Labour government's failed plans to extend the length of time terror suspects can be held had been wrong, saying: "Some of the things we did like the proposals for 90 days, even 42 days, were going too far. I don't think that was the right approach."
She also said: "What we want here is a responsible debate about this. At the moment we've got a counter-terrorism review that's been so delayed by political wrangling within the government between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats that we are getting the results of the review after the old powers have fallen.
"That seems to me like irresponsible timing. It's not sensible as a way to approach national security."
She added: "What's been of concern is the different briefings that we've had... We have to make sure we protect national security."
Ms Cooper was made shadow home secretary in last week's Labour reshuffle prompted by the resignation of shadow chancellor Alan Johnson. She replaced husband Ed Balls, who himself replaced Mr Johnson.
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Legal | Politics | Sports | Teens | Webmasters