The home secretary yesterday clashed with the Conservatives over the country's asylum regime following the murder of a policeman.

Stephen Oake was killed during an anti-terrorism raid on a flat in Manchester.

In the Commons, David Blunkett reacted angrily to claims from the shadow home secretary that the asylum system had allowed terrorists into the UK.

Oliver Letwin also claimed there were wider questions about the UK anti-terror preparedness that needed to be answered.

"There are worrying signs that there is not yet the level of urgency that this threat demands. This particular incident raises the question of the chaotic nature of the current asylum system," the shadow home secretary warned.