Liberal Democrats defend Civil Liberties

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd Sep 2005

At a time when Civil Liberties are increasingly under threat from the Labour Government the Liberal Democrats Conference defended them.

The Conference condemned the Government's repeated attempted to extend the power of the state over the citizen without adequate justification or appropriate safeguards.

In particular Conference deplored the Government's attempts to restrict the right to jury trial, the planned introduction of compulsory ID Cards, the ban on spontaneous demonstrations around Parliament Square and the loss of freedom of expression through the creation of the new offence of incitement to religious hatred.

Conference also rejected Ministers repeated attacks on the judiciary and deplored the Government's use of the Royal Prerogative to avoid Parliamentary debate on controversial issues.

The Liberal Democrats re-affirmed their belief that securing civil liberties requires continuous scrutiny of the Government by Parliament, the judiciary and the public, that accountability is crucial to ensuring proper checks and balances on executive power. The Liberal Democrats called on new legislation to avoid further erosion of civil liberties.

The Liberal Democrats further called on the Government to establish a Commission to draft a Constitution and Bill of Rights for the UK; to end Ministers' use of the Royal Prerogative and to strengthen Parliament's ability to scrutinise legislation. Finally the Liberal Democrats would introduce a new Prevention of Terrorism Bill to reinforce the mainstream criminal law so that exceptional measures, such as Control Orders, are no longer necessary.