Salisbury Incident Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Salisbury Incident

Diana Johnson Excerpts
Wednesday 14th March 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Theresa May Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend makes an important point. We should all be clear that the attitude of the Russian state is shown by what it does, not by what it says.

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement and the actions that she has outlined. She said that there was a need for a new targeted power to detain at the UK border those suspected of hostile state action. Many of us will be surprised that we do not already have that power. Is there a plan to bring forward emergency legislation, so that such a power could be put in place quickly?

Theresa May Portrait The Prime Minister
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The power currently exists in relation to those who are suspected of terrorism, but not of hostile state activity. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be looking urgently at the most appropriate legislative vehicle to bring that power forward.