Charles Kennedy has attacked the home secretary for "aping" American neo-conservative thinking in his tough law and order reforms.

Speaking in the Commons debate following the Queen's Speech, the Liberal Democrat leader rounded on David Blunkett's plans which include the introduction of identity cards and anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

Condemning the draconian measures designed to tackle the terrorist threat, crime and anti-social behaviour Kennedy said: "What the home secretary has managed to do in a short space of time is something that has taken the neo-conservatives in the United States 20 years or more to achieve.

"In aping them he's managed he's turned the use of the term liberal into a derogatory term of political abuse.

"If you look at Britain today in so many ways it is instinctively a liberal society but the home secretary is seeking to undermine that."

Drawing parallels between George W Bush's election campaign and the government's bid to be re-elected, Kennedy added: "There is something else the home secretary is seeking to borrow from the American neo-conservatives.

"Just as the Bush administration sought to conflate in the minds of Americans Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda as part of the same thing, equally this home secretary would like us to think that international terrorism is all part of ASBOs and people being threatened in their communities.

"It is all part of the idea that we are losing control of our situation and it is a very, very dangerous line to peddle. Ours shall be the voices that are raised in the debates over these pieces of legislation raising these points again and again."

Kennedy gave way to the prime minister who defended Blunkett, saying: "Surely there is no inconsistency at all in being liberal minded in terms of things like incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights and at the same time saying that people who make life hell for others in their communities should be allowed to get away with it."