Serious issues demand serious responses. As the British government sets out the latest plans to address the terrorist threat faced by the UK, there are some signs that ministers realise this. But there are also suspicions that behind Gordon Brown’s talk about building consensus is a more calculating approach.

Any discussion of how to balance counter-terrorism measures with civil liberties must acknowledge the genuine threat. The proposals announced by the prime minister this week follow an attempted bomb attack in London and a vehicle bomb attack in Glasgow less than five months ago. Memories of the London terrorist attacks on July 7 2005 are still fresh. Our understanding of home-grown jihadism remains very limited, but its existence cannot be denied.