Labour's sour grapes on 42 days

It is undoubtedly a good thing that the Government has decided not to go ahead with its draconian, illiberal and unnecessary proposals to detain terror suspects without charge.

I did not like Jacqui Smith's tone, though. Basically she said that we opponents of the measure are a bunch of wimpish soft lefties and woe betide us if anything happens. And if it does happen, woe betide us if we don't pass this special piece of legislation in it that will have 42 days and heaven knows what else in it.

42 days' detention without charge is just plain wrong. There is nothing that will make it right, but it seems that the Government would quite cynically repay one assault on our liberties with another.

Smith's comment that "I don't believe that it's enough to cross our fingers and hope for the best" - well, for all the good ID cards are going to do, their massive cost is the equivalent of doing just that.

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