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Blair plays the bully on terror
Jim Jepps
MPs have tonight voted down a series of amendments
that the Lords had demanded in the new anti-terror legislation in order to
protect civil liberties.
These amendments included
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All control orders should be issued by a
judge, not the home secretary
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Standard of proof for control order rises
from "reasonable grounds" for suspicion, to satisfaction on the "balance
of probabilities"
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Director of Public Prosecutions must state
there is no reasonable prospect of successful prosecution before order
is made
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Use of evidence against terror suspects
obtained under torture abroad prohibited
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No additional forms of control order can be
created
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The legislation will expire on 30 November
2005
Blair said "The Conservative Party - and even people on my own
side - should stop trying to water this legislation down, dilute its effect, and
understand it is necessary, it is right, to protect the civil liberties of the
vast majority of people in this country who want to be protected against
terrorism." Blair is desperate to protect his political prestige in the run up
to the election.
On Monday the existing powers run out and the
legislation is being rushed through partly in order to ensure they cannot be
released, despite the fact that no charges nor proof of wrong doing has ever
been brought before them.
Blair's track record on honesty, fighting terrorism and acting within the law is
now utterly tarnished. Where were the Labour rebels who brought this legislation
so close to its downfall last time it went to the house - protecting their
majorities at the expense of our liberties?
March 2005
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