Civil liberties must be defended, says Cherie Blair

Wednesday, 27 July 2005 12:00 AM

Cherie Blair has said the government must not allow civil liberties to be undermined in the struggle to root out terrorism.

Mrs Blair, a QC, made the comments while addressing an audience of 1,000 diplomats, civil servants and lawyers in Malaysia.

The prime minister's wife said it would be "all too easy" to fight terrorism in a way that "cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilised nation".

Mrs Blair said she was not trying to make light of the London terror attacks or the "responsibility imposed on the UK and other governments to keep the public safe".

But she said it was the government must act "strictly in accordance with the law" when dealing with terrorism, and that courts must protect the "weakest, poorest and most marginalised members of society".

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