Kennedy speech in full

Here is the text of Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy's speech to the House of Commons on 4 October.

"Mr Speaker, we welcome this further parliamentary recall and the prime minister's statement this morning which has accompanied it.

And let me make clear from the outset that, as he knows already, the Liberal Democrats are fully supportive of the government's efforts both to protect our own citizens and, of course, the interests of our military personnel and the anxieties of their families. And with that to root out international terrorism.

Parliament stands united against this threat to the security of our own citizens and to global interests generally

In all of that, he has our support.

It is surely correct, Mr Speaker, that today Parliament stands united against this threat to the security of our own citizens and to global interests generally.

Obviously, the government is facing profoundly serious decisions.

And those decisions, once arrived at, must be subject to proper democratic scrutiny.

That is Parliamentary patriotism.

And it is a key distinction between all of us and the foe that we face.

Calm voice

We are here, all of us, to give calm, and hopefully cogent and effective voice, to the legitimate aspirations and apprehensions of those citizens and constituents that we all seek to represent.

And they of course include, significantly, so many members of the Muslim community throughout the United Kingdom.

So the evidence which hopefully will be published later today, which I welcome, will make it possible I hope to make their apprehensions more understood and more addressed.

And I hope indeed as time goes on, on both sides of the Atlantic, it will be possible to publish more evidence still.

But there must be no doubt that the evidence to hand is indeed persuasive.

Gaining UN support on the strength of the evidence against Bin Laden would help reassure world opinion

Persuasive as to culpability.

And persuasive as to breathtaking criminality.

And further potential criminality.

Now will the prime minister reflect upon the over-arching need to work within the broad framework of the United Nations?

Specifically, would he agree that gaining UN support on the strength of the evidence against Bin Laden would help reassure world opinion about the justice of impending military action?

As part of that, for example, would he consider the case for making available to Kofi Annan, and to the Security Council, the full extent of intelligence information which is now available?

Forthcoming legislation

Several specific aspects, Mr Speaker, on forthcoming legislation.

Would the prime minister concur that any such legislation must meet two tests?

First, is it likely to impact directly on the clear terrorist threat, and the campaign against that threat?

Second, can we satisfy ourselves that it does not compromise civil liberties, to such an extent that the terrorist is seen to win by default?

On extradition. We will certainly support moves in this direction, as indeed we have with our colleagues already in the European Parliament.

Equality Act

On religious hatred. An extension of existing discrimination law here should also be supported. Although a longer-term, fuller Equality Act might prove to be the best way forward in days to come.

All matters for later on. But what of the immediate military concerns?

Is it the aim to remove the Taleban regime from power?

What analysis has been made of the possible political and the humanitarian consequences if that regime is driven out of power?

And ultimately, what shape, or form of regime, are we actually striving to see established in Afghanistan itself?

What is the advance planning underway for the humanitarian crisis which is growing as each day goes by already?

The more attention we can give to that, the more we can build Mr Speaker, upon the sound strategic patience of the recent days and help build a better state of future peace."