Tweedledum and Tweedledee
The Yorkshire Ranter has a great post regarding the failure of the Tories or the Lib Dems to oppose the Prevention of Terrorism Act. As he so rightly points out, the "climbdown" of Blair to promise a review in 12 months is no climbdown at all. Parliament always has the right to repeal bills, just as no Parliament can bind its successor. A "sunset clause" would have been a concession, because then an active and conscious decision would have to be taken to reinstitute the law. As it stands, if everyone sits on their hands and does nothing, the law remains in force.We seem to be losing sight of what we are supposed to be fighting the war on terror for. We are supposed to be fighting to defend our civil liberties against the Islamofascists who want to dictate exactly how we live our lives. We must make sure that we maintain them. The Tories and Lib Dems were scared that to fight for what we believe in would see them blamed for a terrorist attack. It is disappointing they could show such moral cowardice. The Prevention of Terrorism Bill, quite simply is wrong. Any person being detained has a right to know why they are being detained, and the reason for their so being must be provable to an independent judiciary. That is the only free and fair basis upon which the rule of law can work. Eroding it in the name of defending our "freedom" is wrong.
posted by Ken @ 4:25 PM
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