Tony Blair will meet with opposition party leaders on Friday to discuss new ‘Control Orders’ designed to deal with terrorist suspects. The orders, announced by the Home Secretary in January, will amount to house arrest. Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders have expressed opposition to the plans amid speculation about Cabinet unease.

Commenting on the opportunity this meeting represented Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said:

"The presumption of innocence, like innocence itself, is easier compromised than reclaimed. Tomorrow's meeting of party leaders on anti-terror policy is one of the most important of recent times.

Whatever the legitimate fears of terrorism and temptations in the run up to an election, we must hope that Britain's senior politicians don't give up on our proudest fair trial traditions."


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