h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Of course, what I was thinking of when I started this Human Rights Act conversation was the way the Blunkett willy-nilly opted out of one of its key clauses. This in no way compares with another nation, say, opting out of the special provisions on hygeine in cheese making. It is about locking people up indefinitely without trial.

If we're not prepared to fight against this sort of thing...then what are we fighting *for*?

And yesterday's Queens' speech had similar monstrosities. For example - in Northern Ireland, 'Diplock' courts in which terrorists could be tried without jury were, arguably, defensible, due to the potential bias amongst or intimidation of juries within the close-knit communities found there. But what is the justification for ALL terrorist cases? None. It's just a combination of scare-mongering and machismo.

Blunkett just wants to lock up anyone who disagrees with him. This is because he knows he hasn't got a leg to stand on when it comes to his spurious justifications about how ID cards will "reduce crime" and "prevent terrorism". Like they do in all those other countries that have ID cards, presumably.

RF