14 November 2007
Gordon Brown has identified national security and "the safety of all our citizens" as his greatest priority as Prime Minister.
In an article for the Sun newspaper today, Mr Brown promised that police and security services would be provided with "every tool they need" to protect the public and combat terrorism. The Prime Minister will make a statement on security to the House of Commons at 12:30 GMT.
The PM said:
"My first duty is to protect the British people and our national security. There is no greater priority, no more important responsibility than the safety of all our citizens.
"But just as the terrorists use every method and use the very freedoms we enjoy to kill and maim people so we must also adopt new tools to beat the terrorists, secure our borders and create a safe global society."
The PM said that security funding, doubled since 2001, will be increased further and that new measures aimed at countering terrorist activity were being drawn up. Mr Brown also highlighted the importance of public vigilance and promised to help build "stronger communities" where extremists would be isolated.
He said:
"Government can do many things - but it cannot by itself build a society where extremism cannot flourish, and terrorists cannot strike. That takes commitment from every community, and vigilance from every one of us."
Today’s statement in Parliament comes on the day Lord West delivers his report to the Government containing key security recommendations for the UK. Earlier this morning the Prime Minister met with Lord West, ministers and senior police and intelligence officers in Downing Street to discuss the report and its implications.
Image copyrigth: Reuters
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