Government's anti-terror response driven by "Public Spin" says Kennedy

4.15.16pm GMT Fri 9th Sep 2005

Government's anti-terror response driven by "Public Spin" says Kennedy

Charles Kennedy, in an interview for the Guardian, has criticised the government's "short-term" response to the terrorist threat and warned against moves that undermine traditional civil liberties. He said ministers were "striking stances or floating initiatives in response to very short term primarily media demands. It seems to be a recurrent feature of the way in which this government goes about its business". On Tony Blair's claim that the terrorist threat had produced a new political climate, he said, "When I hear phrases like that being used I really do get concerned. Climate by definition can change from one day to the next. You don't change your entire fundamental approach based on something as passing as that. Politicians should not be governed by something as nebulous as the climate."

While Mr Kennedy left open the possibility of supporting the government when the latest set of anti-terror legislation is presented to parliament, he cautioned that he was unhappy with the way the prime minister had treated opposition parties on the issue, saying that he had no contact, formal or informal, with Mr Blair since a meeting of the three main party leaders in July and complaining that the prime minister had announced measures at his pre-holiday press conference without warning.