Philip Hammond was accused of stooping to an “abysmally low level of debate” yesterday when he denounced “apologists” for Islamist terrorism but refused to acknowledge the West’s role in creating it.

In his speech lauding Britain’s shadow state and the “brilliance” of the secretive MI6 and GCHQ spy agencies, the Defence Secretary claimed it was time to “move on” from the explosive revelations of US whistleblower Edward Snowden, who unmasked a global surveillance network of shocking proportions.

Mr Hammond pledged extra powers for Britain’s spooks in the event of a Conservative victory in May.

“The responsibility for acts of terror rests with those who commit them,” he said. “But a huge burden of responsibility also lies with those who act as apologists for them.”

Stop the War’s Chris Nineham said: “Flatly refusing to look at causes and contexts of terrorism is a counsel of despair.”

He said that Tories sought to label anyone criticising Western foreign policy or attacks on civil liberties an “apologist” for terrorism, but “the situation in the Middle East is very serious and very dangerous.

“Any objective assessment will conclude that it is in large part the product of a series of military interventions that Britain was unfortunately central to.”

MPs were expected to approve new anti-terror measures last night, including restrictions on travel to war zones such as Syria.

But Mr Hammond lavished praise on Nato ally Turkey for its co-operation — despite the flood of weapons and fighters to genocidal group Isis across the Turkish-Syrian border.