ePolitix.com - Ministers defeated on 90 day vote
This reminds me of the latter days of the Major Government, in fact I think it was probaby more than just the 'latter'.
One cannot help thinking that this time it is an important moment. The Conservatives on the rise again is going to focus the minds of some Labour backbenchers. However, putting that aside this was a very interesting issue for two reasons. Firstly it is a very important issue that a Govenment would want to increase six fold the powers of the Police to hold suspects without charge. It would be a fundamental change to the civil liberties of all in this country to move to such a position.
But the other interesting issue is how much the Labour party has lost control of their party. This is a very large majority and was certainly not close enought to warrant a first class airfare for the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary to return to London to vote. They clearly did not believe it would be so far away and not at all close. That must be worrying for them.
I think this signals the start of some interesting times in the House of Commons and the rise again of Parliamentary power. Just wait till Blair starts trying to reform public services.
This reminds me of the latter days of the Major Government, in fact I think it was probaby more than just the 'latter'.
One cannot help thinking that this time it is an important moment. The Conservatives on the rise again is going to focus the minds of some Labour backbenchers. However, putting that aside this was a very interesting issue for two reasons. Firstly it is a very important issue that a Govenment would want to increase six fold the powers of the Police to hold suspects without charge. It would be a fundamental change to the civil liberties of all in this country to move to such a position.
But the other interesting issue is how much the Labour party has lost control of their party. This is a very large majority and was certainly not close enought to warrant a first class airfare for the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary to return to London to vote. They clearly did not believe it would be so far away and not at all close. That must be worrying for them.
I think this signals the start of some interesting times in the House of Commons and the rise again of Parliamentary power. Just wait till Blair starts trying to reform public services.
1 comment:
As I said in my 24/10 post (and then it was 3),Blair is already in self destruct mode.
Pity this was defeated however as for once I AGREE with Tone,if you have ever tried to unravel hard drives or even simple encryption procedures,let alone trying to get mobile records from the 3rd world,then 90 days would seem rather short.
I do agree that only the most serious of suspects should be treated this way and that 90 days would not be automatic,but rather a submission to some august body of High Court judges who must pronounce within 7 days,during which the suspect could be held under current regulations.
Our borders are so porous that anyone seems able to slip in and out with no undue hindrance so retaining the bad girls and boys is fine,this will also include sophisticated criminals not just terrorists.
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