David Cameron yesterday signalled his support for a potential cross-party deal on national security.
"We must not allow the security of this country to become a political football - either between the parties or within the parties," he said in a speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
The Conservative party leader said that the measures should include the use of communications intercept evidence in court, and giving police new powers to interview alleged terrorists and other suspects after they had been charged.
By JIMMY BURNS
BODY:
David Cameron yesterday signalled his support for a potential cross-party deal on national security.
"We must not allow the security of this country to become a political football - either between the parties or within the parties," he said in a speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
The Conservative party leader said that the measures should include the use of communications intercept evidence in court, and giving police new powers to interview alleged terrorists and other suspects after they had been charged.
Speaking to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Mr Cameron said his party was also prepared to look "carefully and seriously" at any new evidence from police and MI5 that might support increasing the maximum length of time that suspected terrorists can be detained without trial beyond the current 28 days.
"I have to say that we will take a lot of persuading," Mr Cameron said.
Tony Blair signalled last week that the government might make a new attempt to extend the limit up to 90 days, after its parliamentary defeat on the issue last year.
But ministers including John Reid, home secretary, have as yet not committed themselves to specific measures pending the outcome of a review on counter-terrorism laws and structures before the end of the year.
Yesterday Mr Cameron seized, as a signal of a possible way forward, on comments made by Lord Goldsmith in which the attorney-general reiterated his support for communications intercept evidence, with safeguards.
