Home Secretary Theresa May has backed calls for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped.

In comments that will endear her to many Tories, she said she would "personally" like to see it go because of the problems it has presented the Home Office.

Mrs May told The Sunday Telegraph: "I'd personally like to see the Human Rights Act go because I think we have had some problems with it.

"I see it, here in the Home Office, particularly, the sort of problems we have in being unable to deport people who perhaps are terrorist suspects.

"Obviously, we have seen it with some foreign criminals who are in the UK."

But senior Lib Dems, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, have pledged the Act will stay.