The Bush-Blair “war on terror” has left us with a raft of bad laws, says Jago Russell
With just a few days to go before Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary John Reid step down, are there any signs that Gordon Brown may drop the political machismo that has characterised talk on terror? One thing is certain: Home Office ministers, the Home Secretary and Brown have been falling over each other in the rush for headlines on terrorism.
The latest flurry of counter-terror proposals started over the last May Bank Holiday when Home Office Minister Tony McNulty mooted the idea of new “stop and question” laws. The proposal to fine people £5,000 if they refuse to identify themselves to the police or to answer questions caused a public outcry. The government was warned that this could be as damaging to community relations as the old “sus” laws. Thankfully, after a Cabinet revolt, the proposals were withdrawn.
But the tough talk didn’t end there. Five days before the Home Secretary was due to outline new counter-terror proposals in Parliament, Brown stole the
