Concern for Civil Liberties Grows

9.37.56pm GMT Mon 28th Feb 2005

Both Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates in Milton Keynes have joined the debate over civil liberties.

Neil Stuart (Milton Keynes South West) and Jane Carr (Milton Keynes North East) have added their voices to the growing band of people in Britain who are concerned about the loss of freedom that the Government seems intent on introducing.

Neil Stuart says, "The Home Secretary is attempting to extend the Belmarsh concept of house arrest to any British citizen at the sole discretion of a Government minister. And he wants to bring in compulsory identity cards, which will do little to prevent terrorism, benefit fraud or crime - but will cost millions of pounds.

"These authoritarian measures demonstrate that the balance this Government is seeking to achieve has tipped too far. Liberal Democrat MPs have opposed both the house arrest proposals and ID cards.

"Making sure Ministers, civil servants and the laws they produce are subject to robust democratic checks and balances is key to ensuring Britain's civil liberties. The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to Labour on these issues, while the Conservatives have been uncertain and frequently divided."

Jane Carr, one of several high profile speakers who took part in the recent rally held at Woodhill Prison against the holding of prisoners without charge, added, "Only eight weeks before the start of a General Election campaign the two old parties are in danger of setting aside the language of tolerance and liberty with ever-increasing knee-jerk policies.

"Liberal Democrats believe the issues of security, Belmarsh and asylum can be dealt with sensibly without undermining civil liberties.

"In this time of irrational attacks on human rights from Labour and the Tories, the Liberal Democrats are the only Party offering a voice of reason."