GORDON BROWN yesterday signalled a major tightening of security at UK airports, with passengers facing the prospect of full-body scans.

The controversial technology is expected to be introduced at Heathrow and other major airports within weeks after the Prime Minister said it was essential to tackle a new terrorist threat.

They will initially operate alongside metal detectors, and be used for all flights in and out of Britain. But Mr Brown said the inconvenience to travellers would be kept to a minimum.

The announcement came as a row erupted over the Government’s response to the failed Detroit airliner plot, with the Tories accusing the premier of “playing politics” with public safety.

Downing Street issued a statement yesterday morning suggesting that, since the abortive attack on Christmas Day, Mr Brown and US President Barack Obama had agreed joint funding for a counterterrorism police unit in Yemen.

But the PM was quickly forced to admit in an interview that he had not spoken directly to Mr Obama, and the plans had been in place before the incident.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling accused Number 10 of “exaggeration and spin”.

“There will be a lot of politicking in the run-up to the election, but for a Prime Minister to play politics with the issue of terrorism is a disgrace,” he said.

In a wide-ranging interview on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Brown revealed that the decision had been taken to deploy the full-body scanners – which cost about £100,000 each and see through passengers’ clothes.

Mr Brown accepted there was no way to be certain that the devices would be “100 per cent ” effective.

Alongside body scanners, airports are expected to bring in more sniffer dogs and increase their use of passenger profiling.

Hand-luggage is also expected to be swabbed for traces of explosive, and passengers could be searched again just before boarding.

Meanwhile, the US and the UK embassies in Yemen were closed yesterday in response to the “ongoing threat” from al Qaida.

Alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is said to have told FBI agents that he was radicalised and trained in the country within the past six months, before attempting to blow up the plane on Christmas Day.

The 23-year-old Nigerian had spent three years studying in the UK.

The growing threat of extremism in Yemen is due to be discussed at a summit of world leaders in London later this month.