Home secretary David Blunkett yesterday accused campaigners for civil liberties and the legal establishment of threatening the safety of British citizens through their objections to tough counter-terrorism measures.

Blunkett said it was "farcical" that legal obstacles delayed the extradition of terrorist suspects, and added that judicial review had become a "lawyer's charter". He also said "it is justice we seek, not just the primacy of jurisprudence".

In his speech to the Labour conference, he also set out plans for a faster extradition process and a new system of work permits to make it easier for some groups of people to seek work in the UK. Plans to extend laws on race hatred to cover religious hatred were also set out.

Blunkett avoided a showdown with unions over asylum vouchers after Bill Morris of the TGWU said he was prepared to wait for details of a policy review due next month.