Prime Minister is "Trying to legislate his way into History" - Campbell

6.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 15th Nov 2006

Sir Menzies said the government had passed 365 acts since 1997

Menzies Campbell accused the Government of 'statutory addiction' and commented that this Queen's Speech was 'remarkably similar to those which have gone before' -

"After nearly ten years in office the government and the Prime Minister are still chasing the same elusive goals and the same elusive headlines.

"This is a rush from judgement towards legislation. The government suffers from a statutory addiction.

"This is a Prime Minister trying to legislate his way into history.

"Before the Prime Minister was elected he told us that his priority was education, education, education. Since he was elected his priority has proved to be legislation, legislation, legislation."

Menzies Campbell emphasised the need for the government to legislate less and better. Specifically focusing on Home Affairs he stated:

"Devoting time, resources and scrutiny of complex problems such as anti-social behaviour could be more effectively addressed by one piece of legislation rather than the four already passed and the one proposed in this Queen's Speech."

As a solution for increased legislation he called for a Freedom Act that would instead seek to repeal particular legislation: "We need a regular effective system of repeal of legislation which has served its purpose."

The Lib Dem Freedom Bill sets out plans to abolish 10 major pieces of legislation, amongst them ID cards, control orders for terror suspects and to end extradition to the US "without proper evidence".

Our argument is that too much unnecessary and illiberal legislation is being introduced by the Government. We need a government that understands that when it comes to making new laws, it is quality, not quantity, that counts.