Brown orders NHS review after failed bomb attacks

Gordon Brown announced an urgent review of NHS recruitment after news that all eight suspects arrested after failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow were either doctors or in related medical jobs.

The issue of terrorism hung heavily over Mr Brown's first appearance at Prime Minister's Questions, robbing it of much of its gladiatorial excitement as both sides cagily played the security card.

Mr Brown said that background checks on skilled migrant workers would be expanded, as would the worldwide “watch list” of potential terrorists to help warn other countries.

He added that there would be an "immediate review" of NHS recruitment after the discovery that a number of doctors had been arrested in connection with the bomb plot. The review would be carried out by Lord West, the former naval chief appointed as Mr Brown's new anti-terrorism minister.