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Archbishop attacks Labour's 'spider's web' of terror laws
Last updated at 23:22pm on 23.11.06
Impassioned speech: Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York yesterday warned that Labour's obsession with creating new laws to combat terror was creating a "legal spiders web" from which society may not be able to escape.
In an impassioned maiden speech in the House of Lords, Dr John Sentamu said that he feared institutions and individuals may "never escape" from a raft of recent Big Brother-style legislation.
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Ugandan-born Dr Sentamu, the second most senior figure in the Church of England, warned that "unlimited power" can corrupt political leaders.
And he called on ministers to find more "imaginative" ways of creating safe communities and to stop relying on legislation to tackle the threat of terror.
In recent weeks, the Archbishop has been praised for his recent interventions on the Muslim veil and British Airway's decision to ban a member of staff from wearing a small cross.
His comments come amid mounting concerns that Britons are living in a surveillance state. Since Tony Blair came to power, more than 3,000 new criminal offences have been created - at a rate of almost one a day.
It has prompted accusations of "frenzied law-making" by opposition MPs and civil rights campaigners. Dr Sentamu said new laws introduced last week's Queen's Speech "called for new powers, further powers, enhanced powers".
Ministers are currently considering controversial plans to extend the 28-day detention period for terror suspects without charge to 90 days. But the Archbishop, who was quoting the former Prime Minister William Pitt, warned: "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.
"I am bound to ask whether there is an over-reliance by this Government on the power of legislation and good assumptions rather than on partnership with institutions and groups in civil society and members of local communities to provide a strong, secure and stable United Kingdom.
"A statute is a statement of public policy, but is it wise to use it as a means of giving confidence and assurance to fractious communities? By using the statute in this way, as a means of curing all our ills, don't we run the danger of spinning a legal spider's web, from which institutions, groups in civil society and members of local communities stand little chance of ever escaping?"
He added: "We need to find a way in which religion, morals and law are once again indistinguishably mixed together. The separation of law from morality and religion from law has unhelpfully gone too far. "
The Archbishop warned that the terror threat is "driving us to pass more and more laws in the hope of bringing security in our communities."
But he added: "Would the aim of doing justice through laws which are rooted in religion and morality be a surer way of delivering a strong, secure, stable United Kingdom?
"We must seek as a nation to create neighbourhoods that are flourishing, safe, clean and generous as well as tackling anyone who wishes to maim and kill others by suicide bombing.
"We need to offer vision of all this in a compelling and imaginative way that integrates and includes those who are excluded and turn would-be bombers - self excluded and deluded - into belongers," he said.
"We need to create a climate where everyone is not just a guest or tourist, but a joint homebuilder in this green and pleasant land. Where every citizen is given a challenge and opportunity to build a safe, secure and strong community."
Reader views (3)
This man is a breath of fresh air. I have a lot more respect for him than for his boss!
- Bill, London
As we say in the trade, the Churches just preach, but Governments do.
- Dhanraj, Basildon, Essex
About time someone spoke up, well done! Right now in England you can not speak your mind; for fear you will be arrested and prosecuted for the words that come out of your mouth. This is communism, but this country is disguised as a democracy? They are banning certain religious symbols, while others are accepted, changing traditions such as Guy Fawkes night and replacing them with ethnic tales. Is this goverment on a mission to create "Utopia" and thus destroying everything British about Britain along the way? You can not walk the streets with out being watched. They may say its for security, but when does it stop? How long before the camreas are in our houses, our schools, our workplaces? It may seem bizarre now, but it's only a matter of time, because our governement has been given to much control. All implanted by the Labour party. Do you feel any safer, I don't?
- Mark Ward, London, UK
