Election debate: Angus Robertson tells Paul Nuttall terrorists aren't all Muslim in fiery clash over security

Ukip leader defends detainment without trial for terror suspects

Deputy Scottish National Party leader Angus Robertson has clashed with Ukip leader Paul Nuttall after he "went straight for Muslims" during a question about terrorism.

Speaking on the BBC’s election debate, the leaders of the UK’s main political parties, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, discussed security.

Mr Nuttall was asked if he believed it would make Britain safer to detain suspected terrorists without trial.

He said: “I’ve said nothing should be taken off the table. As far as I’m concerned, when MI5 tell us that there’s a possible 23,000 jihadis out there…I’d put British lives over the human rights of jihadis any day.”

But Mr Robertson interjected, saying: “I remember the question was about terrorism and extremism, and you notice that Ukip went straight for Muslims.

“It wasn’t a Muslim who shot Jo Cox, one of Jeremy’s [Corbyn] Labour MP colleagues. It was a British, right wing, neo Nazi.

“Who was it who gunned down kids in Norway? It was a Norwegian, white, racist, neo Nazi. There are all kinds of threats that we need to combat.”

On terrorism, Mr Corbyn said that British military intervention in countries such as Libya had left "ungoverned spaces" which the extremists had been able to exploit to mount attacks.

"If you intervene somewhere, the consequences go on for a very long time," he said.

"It would be extremely unwise for any government anywhere in the world to ignore what is happening in Libya, where large areas are left ungoverned and very dangerous forces are arising there.

"What we need to do is recognise the human rights and justice for people all around the world and be prepared to support them, not just go in and bomb and do nothing about it afterwards, which is what happened in Libya."

He was attacked by Ms Rudd for consistently failing to support anti-terrorism legislation throughout his time in Parliament.

"We have to make sure we have the right legislation. I am shocked that Jeremy Corbyn just in 2011 boasted that he had opposed every piece of anti-terror legislation in his 30 years in office," she said.

"I really think he must be held accountable for that because I find it chilling."

Mr Corbyn responded that Mrs May and other senior Conservatives had voted against anti-terror laws in 2005.

"My opposition to anti-terror legislation isn't opposition to protecting us from terrorism. It is simply saying there must be judicial oversight over what is done in our name," he said.

Additional reporting by Press Association.