Some of London’s leading politicians have lent weight to Liberty’s campaign to stop the use of counter-terrorist powers to prevent protests and demonstrations at the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) at the ExCel Centre in east London's Docklands.

Steven Norris, Conservative candidate for London mayor said: “This is a wholly inappropriate way for the government and police to react. Powers such as this should only be used extremely sparingly and certainly not in this case”

Simon Hughes, the LibDem mayoral candidate and Home affairs spokesman said : "The Act properly gives additional powers to the police where there is a risk of terrorist activity. But these powers absolutely must not become the basis for regular policing.I am going to raise this issue with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner today as a matter of urgency. Protecting ourselves against terrorist attack must not come at the expense of the freedom of the individual."

Jenny Jones, the deputy mayor from the Green party said; “The misuse of anti-terrorism legislation undermines the fight against terrorism. It is of course ironic that it has been used to suppress peaceful protest against the sort of arms fair at which one of the most feared terrorist weapons, surface to air missiles which can bring down commercial planes, have been bought and sold. I will be using my position on the Police Authority to pose some awkward questions to senior police officers.”

Mayor Ken Livingstone said "Londoners have a democratic right to express their views through peaceful protest within the law.

"It does not seem appropriate that powers in the Terrorism Act 2000 should be used when policing such a peaceful protest.

I will be asking the Metropolitan Police Service for an explanation of what powers were used and for what purpose on this occasion."
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