Labour can't be trusted with civil liberties, say Lib Dems

12.56.12pm GMT Thu 10th Feb 2005

Charles Kennedy MP

The Liberal Democrats have set out their proposals for safeguarding British civil liberties in the face of an increasingly unaccountable and presidential-style Labour Government. Launching the 5-point plan for rights and civil liberties, Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy MP, said:

"Today I am setting out a programme of measures designed to protect the civil liberties of British people, because this Labour government is proving that it can't be trusted with them."

"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 expensive compulsory identity cards, which will do little to prevent terrorism, benefit fraud or crime."

"These authoritarian measures demonstrate that the balance this government is seeking to achieve has tipped too far. The Liberal Democrats have opposed both."

"Under Labour, the process of Government has become more presidential, less transparent and less accountable to parliament and to the people. 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. The Tories supported the Government on Belmarsh, Michael Howard supports ID cards and they want to end our long-term commitment to providing a safe haven for genuine refugees."

"Labour is actually building on Conservative foundations. It was a Conservative Government that abandoned the right to silence, that first tied the hands of judges in sentencing and began the process of criminalising protest."

"The Liberal Democrat approach to protecting our civil liberties and tough liberalism on crime offers a change in direction."

Britain has no written constitution. We have no binding Bill of Rights that protects our people from the actions of an irrational government. It is longstanding Liberal Democrat policy to enshrine the rights of the British people and the responsibilities of Government in a written constitution against which all new legislation should be measured. The constitution should also set out the powers of Parliament, Ministers, Judges, the Head of State and the national assemblies.

As part of this constitutional settlement, the Liberal Democrats would:

1. Abolish the Royal Prerogative that enables the Prime Minister to make key decisions (e.g. declaring war) without Parliament's consent. We need a proper framework for Ministers so that their actions are subject to full parliamentary scrutiny.

2. Ensure all Bills are accompanied by a Privacy Impact Assessment that measures proposals against the effects on the right of the individual to privacy.

3. Make it easier for the public to see the legal advice given to Ministers by amending the Freedom of Information Act.

4. End the politicisation of the Civil Service with a robust Civil Service Act that guarantees the independence and neutrality of those drafting and implementing new laws.

5. Strengthen Parliament's ability to scrutinise legislation.