Tory leader attacks asylum policy 'mess'

Iain Duncan Smith derided the "mess" of government asylum policy yesterday and demanded tougher powers to deport suspected terrorists.

During angry exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions, the Tory leader seized on reports that more than 1,000 Britons had learnt terrorist techniques at al-Qa'ida camps.

But Tony Blair insisted a "small number" of asylum-seekers were linked to terrorist groups and he urged tolerance. Three days after Mr Blair raised the prospect of tighter controls, Mr Duncan Smith accused the Government of being driven by panic and headlines.

He said: "We need the powers to deport those who threaten our country and we need them now."

The Prime Minister said the power to detain suspected terrorists without trial existed and had been used recently in London and Manchester.

He also said fresh action had been taken to stem the flow of bogus asylum-seekers, including finger-printing, issuing identity cards and the swift return of "manifestly ill-founded cases".

Mr Blair repeated his pledge that the Government would look at Britain's obligations if the latest measures failed. But Mr Duncan Smith said: "You're waffling and you're in a mess."

Mr Blair replied: "This is a tolerant country. We're proud it's a tolerant country and we never want it to be otherwise. The vast majority of people who claim asylum are not terrorists, or even suspected terrorists."