JURIST - Paper Chase: Blair sticks to anti-terror law timetable, but could speed up if needed

[JURIST] Echoing earlier statements [JURIST report] by UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke after last week's London bombings, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons Monday that he intended to stick by the current timetable for new counter-terrorism legislation, scheduled to go before parliament in the fall and come into effect by the following spring. Blair did say, however, that that timetable could be changed it became appropriate to do so:

If, as the fuller picture about these incidents emerges and the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that there are powers that the police and intelligence agencies need immediately to combat terrorism, it is plainly sensible to reserve the right to return to parliament with an accelerated timetable.

Read the full text of Blair's statement as provided by 10 Downing Street. As it stands, the new anti-terrorism legislation is expected to criminalize condoning or glorifying terrorism and to increase police powers against the preaching of jihad in British mosques. The Scotsman has more.

For a one-stop snapshot of the latest legal news that matters, with breaking documents, new legal videos, live law-related webcasts, commentary by expert law professors and more - all updated through the day in real time, with no ads and no registration barriers - visit JURIST's homepage and check back often...