New anti-terror laws to be forced through

Labour today announced plans to rush through its controversial anti-terror legislation before the general election.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke will publish tomorrow the emergency Bill which gives ministers the right to impose control orders on suspected terrorists.

In an attempt to steamroll the bill through the Commons, the second reading will be held later this week. Government aides said they wanted the Bill on the statute book before the election, expected on 5 May.

The sudden move comes days after Mr Clarke and the Prime Minister met Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy for urgent talks. Mr Kennedy left the Downing Street meeting held on Friday saying that he expected more talks to be held, and suggesting the Government was ready to make minor compromises.

Mr Howard, however, restated the Conservatives' deep opposition to the anti-terror plans.

He said terrorists should be prosecuted and jailed rather than kept in the "comfort" of their own homes without trial. Both opposition leaders had urged for telephone tap evidence to be used in court to make the prosecution of terrorist suspects easier.

However, Mr Clarke turned them down flat, saying it would expose MI5 methods and ultimately weaken Britain's defences.

Government sources said Mr Clarke and Mr Blair signalled they may agree to Mr Kennedy's plea for judges to be given a bigger role in deciding which suspects should be subject to the planned control orders.

Under Mr Clarke's blueprint, the Home Secretary would have virtually unfettered powers to impose control orders without the need for a trial. These would range from electronic tagging and curfews to banning suspects from using mobile phones and the internet.

The package was drawn up after Law Lords ruled the detention without trial of foreigners at Belmarsh and other jails was unlawful. The new laws would apply to Britons, which critics say would undermine centuries of civil liberties.

A Home Office insider said the Bill would take into account the Lords' ruling but insisted Mr Clarke was standing firm on his plans for control orders. "There's a serious threat to this country and we need to respond to that threat."