Government business managers in the House of Lords are attempting to close down debate on the controversial extradition bill, the opposition has claimed.

Ministers were attacked on Tuesday for their decision to hold the latest stage of the bill away from the debating chamber behind closed doors.

Baroness Anelay, the Conservative home affairs spokesman in the Lords, claimed "strong arm" tactics were being used by the government's business managers to avoid scrutiny of the European arrest warrant.

She claimed the government had used new procedural time limits to cut the potential scope for peers to raise objections.

The extradition bill includes the provision for Britons to be detained in the UK at the request of other countries even for activities which are not criminal offences under British law.

The Conservatives highlighted the recent case of the British plane spotters arrested for spying in Greece, arguing they would have little protection under the new proposals.

"This bill would give the Greek government the right to demand that we arrest our own citizens in the UK and send them off to Greece to face trial without any case being made out against them," said Baroness Anelay.

"David Blunkett could not save them because in this bill he is surrendering his right to stop an extradition even when he considers it to be improper or unfair."