Daily Express: Blair 'wrong' over liberties stance

Guest · **Posted:** Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:00:39 +0000

Quote:

The Home Office minister responsible for security has rejected Tony Blair's argument that people must be ready to accept reductions in their civil liberties in the fight against terror because "the rules of the game have changed".

Quote:

But Mr McNulty suggested that ministers had been too ready to adopt exceptional measures which could impact on the liberties enjoyed as part of the British way of life.

What!!! Is this the same McNulty who forced ID cards down our throats.

Just what is happening here?

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/20274

Guest · **Posted:** Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:04:22 +0000

Quote:

He told a meeting sponsored by the Institute of Public Policy Research on the fringe of the Labour conference in Bournemouth that mistakes had been made by the Government, but that ministers had learnt from those mistakes and altered their approach.

"What are the mistakes?" he asked. "With the best will in the world, where we are at now as a Government means that we are coming round to the view that says, actually, the rules of the game haven't changed and to suggest that the rules of the game have changed and we need some specific response to this specific threat is actually to help the other side more than our own side.

"The more these things are tackled through normality, with some little exceptions on top, rather than absolutely by exception, the better. The more your response is rooted in our civil liberties and human rights, with whatever slight tweaks at the top, the better."

Guest · **Posted:** Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:22:14 +0000

Is there an election due?

David Moss · **Joined:** Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:29:05 +0000 **Posts:** 2842

This is potentially seismic, as the guests obviously realise.

One of the two big lies the NIS depends on is that we live in a new world. Guess who said:

Quote:

The world is changing around us at an incredible pace due to remarkable technological change. This process can either overwhelm us, or make our lives better and our country stronger. What we can’t do is pretend it is not happening. Government has to respond to keep up with the hopes and aspirations of citizens and business, to remain efficient and trustworthy. (Foreword to a Cabinet Office paper on transformational government)

Quote:

On any list of public concerns, illegal immigration, crime, terrorism and identity fraud would figure towards the top. In each, identity abuse is a crucial component. It is all part of a changing world: global mass migration; easier travel; new services and new technologies constantly being accessed. (Daily Telegraph)

Only if you first accept that we live in a new world can you then agree to tear up the old rulebook -- the Constitution. Which is what Labour have been trying to do.

Now all we need is for Mr McNulty to say that the NIS is hardly the sort of policy that should be adopted by a "party of the centre" and the other big lie will be nailed.

It is fitting that this repudiation should take place at an IPPR meeting. When the Identity Cards Bill was published, Tony Blair and David Blunkett collected their IOUs and forced people to appear on television giving apparently unsolicited testimonials. One of those who appeared was a man from the IPPR -- nervous, uncomfortable and ashamed, saying that ID cards would make it possible to provide a personalised health service. You could almost see the electric pitchfork behind him.

Now what are the Crosby Forum going to say?

Guest · **Posted:** Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:29:27 +0000

I wonder when they'll announce the October general election.

This little speech is everything to do with backfooting the Tories.

If only the Minister had announced "...so we're dumping ID cards". Never happen though.

capnbob · **Posted:** Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:06:21 +0000

This looks like part of the emerging classic Brownism: same stuff, different tone.

Black Cloud · **Joined:** Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:56:10 +0000 **Posts:** 332

Against the backdrop of a snap election could it be they are starting to realise that the NIS is an electoral millstone.

As for wrong footing the Tories, they are managing that all on their own.

Justin · **Posted:** Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:46:50 +0000

But only picked up by the Daily Express, just how low key is that, any word of it elsewhere?

It may well be a case of changing emphasis rather than a change of mind. Look out for such pleas as an ID card isn't really that much of a loss of liberty, just a small pragmatic step in todays modern world etc etc. And I thought politicians were meant to be shaping the modern world rather than following it blindly. No vision nowdays, all just managers.

Justin.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:15:42 +0000

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5in0b77Ey3ZrxbIDTxMC6f9Ao25PA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Mistakes_were_made_after_London_bombings_Minister/articleshow/2406862.cms

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1717689.0.minister_signals_terror_uturn.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7015154.stm

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Daily Express: Blair 'wrong' over liberties stance

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