Paddy Ashdown yesterday said politicians must not act as “cheerleaders” for demands of intelligence and security agencies in response to David Cameron’s plans to tighten anti-terror laws.

The former Liberal Democrat leader’s comments, published in an Observer article, come as the Prime Minister prepares to make a Commons statement today on measures to tackle the perceived threat posed by British jihadis supporting the Islamic State (Isis).

Mr Cameron has said action is needed to close “gaps in our armoury,” including new legislation to make it easier to take people’s passports away to prevent them from travelling to Iraq and Syria after raising the terror threat level from “substantial” to “severe” on Friday.

But Lord Ashdown warned that Mr Cameron’s rhetoric risked alienating moderate Muslims.

The comments enforce speculation of a rift in the coalition over the issue after Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also insisted any changes to terror laws need to be carefully considered and based on evidence.

Six senior Islamic scholars yesterday issued a fatwa, condemning British jihadis joining Isis, the first of its kind issued in Britain.