The Day Our Freedoms Died
11th June 2008 will be remembered. As the day when our elected representatives decided to remove our freedoms.
As strong as it may sound, our freedoms have died today. Because now we can be held for 42 days without charge if “terrorism” is mentioned as a reason. And we get £42,000 compensation if then released without charge. Scant compensation for such a breach of our human rights.
There is no case for 42 days. There has been no demand for it from the security services - and even if there had been, that doesn’t mean that we should give it to them. If other countries - including the US - believe that a third or less of that time is necessary, why are we going so far? What possible need is there?
ConservativeHome has never been more wrong than when it supported this bill.
Yet MPs voted by 315 to 306 for the motion. It was very tight, as expected, and showed that most Labour - and DUP - MPs chose to vote for the government and against the people.
Every MP who voted for the motion
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Every Labour MP, bar 36 rebels
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Sole Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe
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All nine DUP MPs
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Ulster Unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon, and
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UKIP’s Bob Spink
should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. For they have, as Tony Benn put it [probably the first and last time I will ever agree with him] repealed the Magna Carta.
UPDATE: As A Dodo has the Magna Carta’s obituary.
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Watching the whole proceedings from Westminster on TV was one of the most profoundly depressing experiences of my life.
So few stood to defend the government’s actions and, those who did, failed miserably, but we had to listen to the vile McNulty revelling in triumph, however short term it may prove to be, judging by the media’s reaction to Brown’s ability to p*** a healthy majority up the wall.
Even under Blair I could pick over the bones and find some residual reason for a moderate pride in the country in which I live. This evening I’ve tried to find that little straw to grasp at and it wasn’t there. For the first time in my life I must say I am truly ashamed of this country and what the fundamental statement of values that legislation like this makes.
That popping sound you hear is not that of champagne corks in Downing Street, but of rifles fired in celebration in the air above the whatever dank cave the vermin to whom our government has capitulated now live.
And ‘no surrender’ Mr Paisley? That’s exactly what your final significant act on the Westminster stage was. I’ve tried to explain, if not exactly fought your corner against the prejudices of the left since I was a teenager. No More.
Sorry not to give a reason to look on the bright side TD, even ongoing damage to Incapability for the remainder of his limited time in Downing Street doesn’t make up for this.
[...] What an unexpected outcome of the lost vote over 42 days detention. Not something I was expecting to see when I clicked on to the BBC website [...]