Unwanted legislation
Today is the day of the Haltemprice and Howden by-election. As debate on the Government’s 42-day proposals continues, Gordon Brown’s arguments in favour of the legislation are sounding weaker by the day.
It is clear that the legislation was always designed as a political calculation to outflank the Conservatives and make the Prime Minister appear tough on security. Scoring political points was at the core of the exercise.
Earlier this week, members of the House of Lords lined up to criticise the legislation. These attacks were led by Lady Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5. Her concerns were remarkably similar to what David Davis has been saying.
Yesterday a poll conducted for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust showed that only a third supported the Prime Minister’s call for an extension to the time terror suspects can be held.
It is now up to the House of Lords to kick this piece of legislation into touch. The legislation has been shown to be the worst sort of politics, and nothing really to do with combating terrorism effectively.
If the head of M15 thinks this, it says it all…….
PS. I am off to Ukraine today, so blogging will be suspended until Wednesday.
Psychic Advice said on July 13th, 2008 at 7:33 pm:
Great blog, subscribed to your rss feed. Thanks.