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Brown 'full confidence' in West Brown unveiling anti-terror plans
(19 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has full confidence in his security minister following comments he made on detention limits for terror suspects, Downing Street says. Gordon Brown is announcing measures to give better protection against terror attacks on rail stations, airports, shopping centres and sports stadiums.
Lord West told the BBC at 0820 GMT he was not convinced about extending the 28-day limit - but an hour later, after talks in No 10, said he was convinced. Security minister Lord West was asked to draw up the plans in July.
No 10 denied suggestions the PM had influenced the peer's later statement. However, ahead of the announcement Lord West was at the centre of confusion on detention limits for terror suspects.
The ex-admiral later added that as a "simple sailor and not a politician I didn't choose my words very well". He told the BBC initially he was not convinced about extending the limit beyond 28 days - but then said he was convinced, after talks in No 10.
He said he had not changed his mind, but had merely not expressed his view clearly enough during the original interview. During the Today programme interview at 0820, former Admiral Lord West said he still needed "to be fully convinced that we absolutely need more than 28 days".
Lord West's comments came as Mr Brown prepares to outline the conclusions of the peer's review into strengthening security in crowded public areas and designing anti-terror features in new buildings and projects. 'Complex plots'
Convinced or not?
Mr Brown will also unveil more details of the planned border force combining immigration, customs and visa staff and a relaxation of air luggage rules.
During the Today programme interview former Admiral Lord West said he still needed "to be fully convinced that we absolutely need more than 28 days".
I haven't changed my position. Maybe being a simple sailor and not a politician I didn't choose my words very well Lord West
"I want to be totally convinced because I am not going to go and push for something that actually affects the liberty of the individual unless there is a real necessity for it.""I want to be totally convinced because I am not going to go and push for something that actually affects the liberty of the individual unless there is a real necessity for it."
But then at 0930, after a half-hour meeting with Mr Brown, the peer told the BBC he was "personally convinced" that the 28-day limit needed extending.But then at 0930, after a half-hour meeting with Mr Brown, the peer told the BBC he was "personally convinced" that the 28-day limit needed extending.
There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them Lord WestSecurity Minister
"I personally, absolutely believe that within the next two or three years we will require more than that for one of those complex plots," he said."I personally, absolutely believe that within the next two or three years we will require more than that for one of those complex plots," he said.
He later issued a statement in an attempt to clarify his position saying: "I am quite clear that the greater complexities of terrorist plots will mean that we will need the power to detain certain individuals for more than 28 days."He later issued a statement in an attempt to clarify his position saying: "I am quite clear that the greater complexities of terrorist plots will mean that we will need the power to detain certain individuals for more than 28 days."
Judicial oversight Downing Street said Mr Brown had full confidence in the peer and denied suggestions the prime minister had influenced Lord West's second statement.
Mr Brown's official spokesman said: "Lord West set out his position clearly in the second statement. The minister later stressed that he had not changed his position. "Maybe being a simple sailor and not a politician, I didn't choose my words very well," he said.
"On the Today programme interview he made a number of points, including that there was a case to go beyond 28 days."
He confirmed that Lord West had met the prime minister in between the two comments, but denied any suggestion that Mr Brown had influenced Lord West's second statement.
He said the prime minister and the government's position was that there "is a case for extending beyond 28 days" but this has to be given judicial oversight.
Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs plan to try to block the move to raise the limit, saying there is no evidence change is needed.Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs plan to try to block the move to raise the limit, saying there is no evidence change is needed.
There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them Lord WestSecurity Minister Lord West's comments came as Mr Brown outlined conclusions from the peer's review into strengthening security in crowded public areas and designing anti-terror features in new buildings and projects.
Ahead of his statement on security, Mr Brown said there would be "some inconvenience in what we propose", but this needed to be balanced with protection of liberties and minimising the inconvenience to passengers in our airports. Mr Brown was also unveiling more details of the planned border force combining immigration, customs and visa staff and a relaxation of air luggage rules.
Lord West was tasked with drawing up plans to give better protection against terrorist attacks on crowded public places, like rail stations, airports, shopping centres and sports stadiums. Ahead of the statement he said that there would be "some inconvenience in what we propose", but this needed to be balanced with protection of liberties and minimising the inconvenience to passengers in our airports.
He told Today that he started his brief "on the premise that what we mustn't do is the terrorists' job for them". Vigilance
Lord West told Today that he started his brief "on the premise that what we mustn't do is the terrorists' job for them".
"Yes, there is a great risk, we've got to be vigilant - but we need to make sure we conduct our normal way of life in terms of business, work, pleasure, all these things," he said."Yes, there is a great risk, we've got to be vigilant - but we need to make sure we conduct our normal way of life in terms of business, work, pleasure, all these things," he said.
"There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them."There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them.
"If a bomb goes off, we have actually built into them the shrapnel that will kill and injure people and we can actually do things to make this better."If a bomb goes off, we have actually built into them the shrapnel that will kill and injure people and we can actually do things to make this better.
"We very clearly, from now on, must always make sure we design in counter terrorism measures as we do counter crime measures.""We very clearly, from now on, must always make sure we design in counter terrorism measures as we do counter crime measures."
'Cancer of terrorism''Cancer of terrorism'
The peer said he and his team had looked at how to protect existing buildings, by redesigning road layouts, putting in barriers and using specific types of glass.The peer said he and his team had looked at how to protect existing buildings, by redesigning road layouts, putting in barriers and using specific types of glass.
He said Britain "can spend the national wealth on protecting ourselves and trying to chase these criminals down".He said Britain "can spend the national wealth on protecting ourselves and trying to chase these criminals down".
But none of the measures would be effective without "exorcising this cancer of terrorism", by "stopping the radicalisation of our youth" - a measure the prime minister is expected to update MPs on.But none of the measures would be effective without "exorcising this cancer of terrorism", by "stopping the radicalisation of our youth" - a measure the prime minister is expected to update MPs on.
Details of the unified border force, first announced by Mr Brown in July, are also due to be outlined on Wednesday.Details of the unified border force, first announced by Mr Brown in July, are also due to be outlined on Wednesday.
A study led by the Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, considered whether it should include police officers as well as those from the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and the overseas UK Visa operations.A study led by the Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, considered whether it should include police officers as well as those from the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and the overseas UK Visa operations.