I hate to keep harping on about this but…
I’ve just been watching TV for a change. The world of politics seems upside down at the moment. Peter Oborne on Channel 4’s Dispatches ‘Spinning Terror’ commented on the recent raft of Anti-Terror legislation and the way it has been presented to the British public. It made for disturbing viewing. It makes me wonder how much of the ‘War on Terror’ is utter nonsense. Okay, there is a degree of threat, but the Prime Ministers office may be overselling how big that threat really is specifically to us. For over thirty years the UK mainland lived with the threat of Irish Republican (IRA) terror attacks, and still might have to again, if the odd rumour coming from Northern Ireland has any truth in it.
No UK Government during that time saw fit to suspend Habeas Corpus; or enact legislation where a UK Government could in theory suspend Parliamentary Democracy. Government and the Police didn’t need those powers then, so why do they need them now?
Now I’m not underplaying the Suicide bombings in London on the 7th of July 2005, but the political hoo-hah is actually harming the effectiveness of the real war against the terrorists. Government is claiming ever more punitive powers on the back or every scare story that hits the headlines. Tony Blair seems not to have a clue, apart from maintaining his own position.
This Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill for example, I’ve just finished reading it for the third time. It appears to me a very poor piece of legislation, which if enacted, would give the Government of the day virtual dictatorial powers re passing legislation. No more fussing with those old fuddy duddies in the Lords or on the opposition benches. I’ve already e-mailed my MP – Who hasn’t yet replied about this issue, but has at least acknowledged receiving my e-mail. Even Labour voters are getting concerned.
The more I look at the situation, the more I am inclined to quote the Scottish Play, slightly out of context:
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Tales told by idiots? To idiots? We will see.
No UK Government during that time saw fit to suspend Habeas Corpus; or enact legislation where a UK Government could in theory suspend Parliamentary Democracy. Government and the Police didn’t need those powers then, so why do they need them now?
Now I’m not underplaying the Suicide bombings in London on the 7th of July 2005, but the political hoo-hah is actually harming the effectiveness of the real war against the terrorists. Government is claiming ever more punitive powers on the back or every scare story that hits the headlines. Tony Blair seems not to have a clue, apart from maintaining his own position.
This Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill for example, I’ve just finished reading it for the third time. It appears to me a very poor piece of legislation, which if enacted, would give the Government of the day virtual dictatorial powers re passing legislation. No more fussing with those old fuddy duddies in the Lords or on the opposition benches. I’ve already e-mailed my MP – Who hasn’t yet replied about this issue, but has at least acknowledged receiving my e-mail. Even Labour voters are getting concerned.
The more I look at the situation, the more I am inclined to quote the Scottish Play, slightly out of context:
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Tales told by idiots? To idiots? We will see.
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