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<font size=3>Clarke blow No. 1: Ruling hits key anti-terror measure<br>
By James Lyons, PA Political Correspondent<br>
<a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=593776" eudora="autourl">http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=593776<br><br>
</a>16 December 2004 <br><br>
Charles Clarke was dealt a severe blow just hours after starting work as
Home Secretary today, when law lords ruled suspected terrorists should
not be detained without trial.<br><br>
Mr Clarke pledged to press ahead with ID cards and other tough
anti-terror measures following David Blunkett's dramatic
departure.<br><br>
But he hardly had his feet under the desk at Queen Anne's Gate before the
Lords ruled detention without trial breaches European human rights
law.<br><br>
The judgment throws into doubt a central plank of the Government's
anti-terror strategy, just months before an election Labour will fight
largely on the issue of security.<br><br>
The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman demanded an urgent statement
from Mr Clarke.<br><br>
The ruling underlines the formidable burden Mr Clarke takes on in his new
post, which is only added to by Labour's election strategy.<br><br>
His own backbenchers have already suggested Mr Blunkett's resignation
should trigger a rethink on plans for ID cards.<br><br>
Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy urged Mr Clarke to "pause"
before bringing forward the controversial scheme.<br><br>
However, Mr Clarke today declared: "I certainly shall not pause. I
will go ahead with the legislation."<br><br>
As Education Secretary he was branded "soft" by Mr Blunkett,
just one in a series of caustic comments to a biographer that did so much
to undermine Cabinet support.<br><br>
But that criticism was withdrawn over a "very nice lunch", Mr
Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.<br><br>
"Any fears that I might be soft on crime would not be justified
either," he added.<br><br>
With a Commons showdown on ID cards looming on Monday he held out hope to
critics that some of their concerns would be taken on board.<br><br>
However, he continued: "The predominant feeling I have felt on the
Labour Party backbenches and, actually, I think in the country as a
whole, is that we have to tackle these issues.<br><br>
"I might wish in an idealistic world we didn't have some of these
things but I think what people want today is a world in which they feel
secure."<br><br>
The 2001 al Qaida attacks had made such measures necessary, Mr Clarke
said.<br><br>
"War has certainly been declared on democratic society by terrorist
organisations.<br><br>
"And I certainly think it is our responsibility as a society and
certainly my responsibility as Home Secretary to do my best to defend us
against that threat."<br><br>
Mr Clarke also said the immigration and asylum system needed "urgent
reform" to cut numbers.<br><br>
"Great achievements have been made by David Blunkett and his
predecessors but I think everybody acknowledges there remain issues that
have to be resolved," he said.<br><br>
"The impact of organised crime that I mentioned earlier on
people-trafficking has had a very serious effect on our society as people
are brought in in quite an unacceptable way by great criminal gangs
leading to terrible tragedies ... They have to be
stopped."<br><br>
Mr Clarke rejected suggestions that the departure of Mr Blunkett despite
staunch support from the Prime Minister signalled the end of Tony Blair's
era.<br><br>
And despite the harsh criticism in the biography of the Sheffield
Brightside MP he had warm words for his predecessor.<br><br>
"I have every personal sympathy and support for David in his
personal life and what he has done, as well as respect for what he has
done in his professional life," he said.<br><br>
"I think that is a set of events which have worked out in the dramas
of yesterday and I'm very, very sorry it has come to that.<br><br>
"But the idea that it is somehow some symptom of failing government
or whatever I absolutely do not accept." <br><br>
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