FORMER Government minister Frank Judd painted a gloomy picture of international relationships and predicted increased future terrorism when he gave the Lent Lecture in Marlborough.

Lord Judd, a former minister of overseas development, made his chilling remarks to an audience of more than 150 at the town hall on Wednesday.

Lord Judd took part in a question and answer session. He was asked if he thought the next 50 years would be significantly different to the comparably peaceful past 50 years.

Lord Judd said he predicted an increase in international unrest and in global terrorism because of dissatisfaction resulting from the growing wealth of the USA compared with many other parts of the world. He said there were increasing signs of a pre revolutionary demand for a more equal distribution not only of wealth but also of power.

He predicted there would be growing resentment to the USA and its efforts to enforce solutions by using its military might. "We are in danger of going into a period of instability that this world has never seen before," he said.