Blair refused to rule out using controversial new anti-terror laws against G8 protesters when Britain hosts the summit of world leaders in July.
Blair tonight refused to rule out using controversial new anti-terror laws against G8 protesters when Britain hosts the summit of world leaders in July.
But the Prime Minister insisted he could not see why anyone wanted to protest against the gathering of industrialised nations at Gleneagles which he has already said will focus on the plight of Africa and on the environment.
Speaking during his visit to the Scottish Labour conference, Mr Blair also insisted that Gordon Brown – who addresses the party gathering in Dundee tomorrow – would be “central” to Labour’s forthcoming General Election campaign.
With Britain currently holding the G8 presidency, Mr Blair is to host US and Russian presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin and the heads of the French, German, Japanese, Italian and Canadian governments at the luxury Gleneagles golf resort hotel in Perthshire.
He told the Sunday Mail that the Government’s proposed new anti-terror powers, including control orders to place suspects under house arrest without trial, could be in place by the time the summit takes place on July 6-8.
Asked whether Home Secretary Charles Clarke would use the new anti-terror laws against G8 protesters, Mr Blair said: “I couldn’t rule it out.”
He added: “It would be very odd if people came to protest against this G8, as we’re focusing on poverty in Africa and climate change.
“I don’t quite know what they’ll be protesting against.”
Mr Blair said he welcomed peaceful protesters who will gather to urge world leaders to help Third World countries crippled by debt, famine and disease.
He specifically praised the Make Poverty History campaign, which hopes to attract as many as 200,000 people to the streets of Edinburgh on July 2 to demand trade justice, debt cancellation and more aid for the world’s poorest countries.
While that group and others like the G8 Alternatives coalition of campaign groups and unions have urged troublemakers to stay away, some anti-capitalists have said they are planning to disrupt the G8 event.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4216894
ALso-G8 PROTESTERS could be placed under 'house arrest' under the Government's new anti-terror laws.
But the Prime Minister insisted he could not see why anyone wanted to protest against the gathering of industrialised nations at Gleneagles which he has already said will focus on the plight of Africa and on the environment.
Speaking during his visit to the Scottish Labour conference, Mr Blair also insisted that Gordon Brown – who addresses the party gathering in Dundee tomorrow – would be “central” to Labour’s forthcoming General Election campaign.
With Britain currently holding the G8 presidency, Mr Blair is to host US and Russian presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin and the heads of the French, German, Japanese, Italian and Canadian governments at the luxury Gleneagles golf resort hotel in Perthshire.
He told the Sunday Mail that the Government’s proposed new anti-terror powers, including control orders to place suspects under house arrest without trial, could be in place by the time the summit takes place on July 6-8.
Asked whether Home Secretary Charles Clarke would use the new anti-terror laws against G8 protesters, Mr Blair said: “I couldn’t rule it out.”
He added: “It would be very odd if people came to protest against this G8, as we’re focusing on poverty in Africa and climate change.
“I don’t quite know what they’ll be protesting against.”
Mr Blair said he welcomed peaceful protesters who will gather to urge world leaders to help Third World countries crippled by debt, famine and disease.
He specifically praised the Make Poverty History campaign, which hopes to attract as many as 200,000 people to the streets of Edinburgh on July 2 to demand trade justice, debt cancellation and more aid for the world’s poorest countries.
While that group and others like the G8 Alternatives coalition of campaign groups and unions have urged troublemakers to stay away, some anti-capitalists have said they are planning to disrupt the G8 event.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4216894 ALso-G8 PROTESTERS could be placed under 'house arrest' under the Government's new anti-terror laws.
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