Diana Johnson MP Labour’s Shadow Security Minister, responding to calls from Lord Carlile, former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, to reintroduce Control Orders to deal with the growing threat of British jihadists returning from Syria and Iraq, said:

“It is now clear that the hundreds of British fighters in Syria and Iraq present an unprecedented threat to the UK’s national security. We need to be looking again at the effectiveness of the Prevent programme and reviewing the powers the security services have to manage the  threat from returning fighters. The Government must stop ignoring the experts, such as Lord Carlile, and take action.

“Lord Carlile has pointed to weaknesses in the ‘Prevent’ programme - already highlighted by Labour - including significant cuts to the funding of this programme.

“Labour has offered to work on a cross-party basis to review the powers the security services need and to introduce appropriate legislation to deal with the growing threat of British men who join jihadist movements abroad.”