Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper strongly criticised the government's approach to counter-terrorism, after a judge awards radical cleric Abu Qatada bail:

"The Home Secretary needs to explain urgently what action she is taking on the national security implications of this judgement.

"The Home Secretary's foremost responsibility is the protection of the public and national security. So the Government also needs to set out how they are responding to the proposal for bail, what appeal they will pursue and what safeguards they will put in place including using counter terror powers as well as stronger bail conditions.

"Any bail decision must not interfere with keeping our country safe.

"This is the kind of case which shows why we introduced Control Orders and why we have warned the Government against weakening counter terror powers and removing Control Orders in favour of TPIMs instead."