Senior Conservatives have condemned the terrorist attacks on London, expressed sympathy for the victims of the bombings, and declared that the nation will not be cowed by the atrocities.
Tory leader Michael Howard issued a statement: "We express our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who have lost lives and those who have been injured. We express our thanks and admiration for the heroic work of the emergency services and we fully support the Prime Minister in what he has said about our determination to defend and to protect our way of life."
And in the Commons, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis also condemned the attacks as "acts of almost unspeakable depravity and wickedness", and insisted that the British nation would not give in to terrorism.
Speaking after Home Secretary Charles Clarke made a brief statement to MPs following the bombings on the Tube network and at least one bus in the capital, Mr Davis said: "A prime aim of terrorists is to demoralise and divide our communities. It is right that we should be angry at today’s atrocities. It is no less essential that we remain clear-headed and united. We say to the terrorists: you will not succeed in setting us against one another."
He said: "Britain has long experience of terrorism. We have joined together to fight it in the past. Now, we do so again. For now, the terrorism that walks the streets of London has no face. But whatever its origin, whatever its motive, our response is the same: the British people will not be cowed and the terrorists will not win."
Commenting on the attacks on the tube network and a bus in London, Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:
"Everybody’s thoughts must be with those who have died or been injured and their families and friends. I want to pay tribute to the emergency services for their swift response. What has happened is appalling and those who carried out these attacks must be brought to justice.
"These bombs have exploded as world leaders meet at Gleneagles. The moral contrast between those who seek to disrupt and destroy and those who are trying to build for the future could not be more stark. The terrorists must not prevail."
