Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to warnings from the Head of MI5 Andrew Parker and the report from David Anderson QC, said:

“When we hear that Britain is facing the threat of more terrorist activity than ever before, it is beholden on us all to ensure the authorities have the powers they need to act with speed and protect us.

"But those powers need to be limited to what is strictly necessary and care needs to be taken to avoid fuelling division and a sense of victimisation. This is why the Government must listen carefully to the warning today from its own Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and proceed with utmost caution.

"There is an extremely fine line between empowering our protectors and alienating whole communities. I urge the Home Secretary to take great care to get this balance right. Already this summer, the Prime Minister has spoken of the Muslim community ‘quietly condoning’ extremism. Such talk risks alienating the very people who are working hard to tackle extremism and the Government must not now compound the damage it has already caused to community relations with unnecessarily provocative legislation.

"While I am prepared to consider new measures, I give no guarantees to the Government and will watch carefully to ensure the correct balance is achieved.”

Ends