Conservatives attack Blair on terrorism laws

BOURNEMOUTH, Oct 2 (Reuters) Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has undermined ancient freedoms in its fight against terrorism, Conservative Party Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said today.

In a speech to his party's annual conference, Davis attacked Blair for ''not having the guts'' to enforce existing laws, while drafting new powers that erode civil liberties.

''Labour doesn't understand a simple obvious truth,'' Davis said. ''You cannot defend our liberties by sacrificing our liberties.'' The Conservatives have proposed a bill of rights and opposed the government's plan to hold suspects for 90 days without trial, he added.

Davis accused ministers of allowing the radical preacher Abu Hamza to ''preach hate and foment terrorism'' at his London mosque because they felt they did not have the laws to tackle him.

When Hamza was convicted of 11 charges in February, six of those charges were brought under an 1861 law, Davis said.

''The government's inability to bring him to justice was one of the reasons cited for new terror laws that curbed our fundamental liberties,'' he said.

''There is little point in having new laws unless we have a government with the guts to use them.'' The July 7 attacks in London last year highlighted the emergence of a ''small minority of young Muslims'' who see themselves as Muslims only and not British Muslims, he added.

''We need to reconcile that minority with modern Britain,'' he said. ''Sharia law is not an option in Britain.'' In a speech which focused on traditional Conservative concerns on crime and immigration, Davis said his party would overhaul the criminal justice system.

Under a Tory government, police chiefs would get more powers and deal with less red tape. Prisons would be expanded and the immigration system would be tightened, he said.

After nearly 10 years out of power, the Conservative Party has sought to recast itself as a modern, caring political force that appeals to the middle classes.

The party, rejuvenated under leader David Cameron, will also debate new taxes on Monday on airline fuel to raise the price of cheap flights in a bid to curb pollution and slow global warming.

Labour accuses the Conservatives of being all image and no substance and deride their lack of detailed policies.

But Cameron argues he is setting out the party's direction and its underlying principles and that policy will come later, once he has cast the net wide to garner a range of opinions.

Reuters LL GC1830