THE government was yesterday accused of seeking to abdicate responsibility after it announced powers to cancel the passports of British nationals who travel abroad to fight for Islamic State (Isis).

They are among a number of measures to be included in a counter-terrorism Bill in Parliament this month, David Cameron has said.

Legislation would block individuals from returning from Syria and Iraq to Britain for at least two years unless they comply with strict conditions.

These could include being escorted back to Britain and then facing prosecution, bail-style reporting conditions, deradicalisation courses or being subjected to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure orders (TPims).

Border guards and airport police are to be given new powers to seize passports from individuals they suspect of planning to travel abroad for terrorism.

Airlines will be ordered to comply with a “no-fly list” of individuals barred from travel to Britain and to use interactive electronic data systems capable of receiving instructions to offload or screen any passenger.

The plans have reportedly been agreed with the Lib Dems after they were first outlined by Mr Cameron to the Commons in September.

However, opponents of the proposals argue that the cancellation of passports of Britons fighting overseas would render them stateless, in contravention of international law.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve warned in September that “even taking such powers on a temporary basis is likely to be a non-starter.”

Downing Street said the package would “significantly strengthen our armoury” in tackling the problem of foreign fighters.

Lib Dem Lord Carlile, a former inspector of terrorism legislation, said he believed the proposals being set out by the coalition would be in line with international law.

But Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: “Dumping suspect citizens like toxic waste, abdicating your responsibilities to the international community, is a very strange way of promoting the rule of law.

“Summary powers to ‘stop and seize’ passports at airports will prove just as divisive and counter-productive as the infamous stop and search powers that preceded them.

“When will our governments learn that there are no short cuts to our security?

“It needs to be built on intelligence, evidence and justice not speeches, soundbites and ever more new laws.”