UK security 'dramatically' better

Lord West denied he had been "hauled in" by Gordon Brown

There has been a "dramatic improvement" in the UK's security since Gordon Brown took over as prime minister in June, Security Minister Lord West has said.

He told the Sunday Telegraph: "I think we're ahead of all countries in the world on the protection front - which is great."

Lord West said measures to upgrade security at airports and train stations would mean a "step change" in security.

The Lib Dems and Tories said public confidence had not been enhanced.

'Simple sailor'

Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy, was appointed to the government in the summer.

Last week, he told the BBC that he had yet to be convinced of the need to extend the 28-day limit for holding terror suspects before charging them - a view at odds with most recent ministerial comments.

First Lord West flip-flops over 28 days, then he brags about Britain's preparedness Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrats

Just over an hour later, after a visit to Downing Street, he said he was actually convinced of the case, adding that as a "simple sailor" he had not chosen his words well.

Lord West told the Sunday Telegraph he had not been "hauled in" by the prime minister for a telling off, saying he had attended Number 10 for a pre-arranged breakfast.

He went on: "The reason I think I was most upset on Wednesday was because so many people had worked so hard and achieved so much.

"We have really made a step change, I believe. That was the message that I was keen to let the prime minister put across and I thought I had let people down."

Mr Clegg said: "First Lord West flip-flops over 28 days, then he brags about Britain's preparedness.

"This is not the way to improve public confidence in national security."

'Inconsistent'

Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "On 5 November, the Head of MI5 publicly set out the 'growth' in the domestic security threat, saying 'I don't think that this problem has yet reached its peak', explaining that 'we will not be able to cover every potential threat'.

"Today Lord West says we face 'a steadily declining threat', claiming that our counter-terrorism defences are 'ahead of all countries in the world on the protection front'.

"It is not likely to enhance public confidence when the head of the security service and the security minister give such inconsistent assessments."

Ministers are believed to be drawing up a range of safeguards to allow terror suspects to be detained for up to 58 days.

The Home Office said last week that it had "consulted widely on options".

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are both opposed to an extension of the detention limit.