Ethics is an objective, metaphysical necessity
of man’s survival.

Taken from the BBC video here. Any errors and omissions my own.

I had intended to make this statement in the House of Commons, the appropriate place in my view for something as important as this, but the Speaker ruled that because it revisited controversial issues from yesterday, that that was not appropriate.

So I am going to read you the statement that I was about to make in the House. It will take a couple of minutes.

Before I start, the name of my constituency is Haltemprice and Howden. Haltemprice is derived from a mediaeval proverb meaning “noble endeavour”. Up until yesterday, I took the view that what we did in the House of Commons representing our Constituents was a noble endeavour, because like centuries of forbears, we defended the freedoms of the British people. Well, we did, up until yesterday.

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Thank goodness for John Major. If only 42-day detention stood alone in trespassing on our liberty.

I just learned that the UK’s oldest man is 112 today – sharing my birthday – and that he fought at the Somme. He underwent these and later horrors for what? So we could tyrannize ourselves today?

Tipping into despotism will not do.

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Liberty’s campaign continues, describing Britain’s powers as an
international disgrace.

Some snippets from their latest campaign email:

Not Genuine Emergency Powers: The proposal has been dressed up with
more language about ‘grave and exceptional terrorist threats’, but
there is still no legal requirement for a terrorist emergency to exist
and no requirement for the Home Secretary to show that 42 days
detention is urgently needed to deal with any threat. Forty-two days
could still become routine, triggered for operational convenience in
individual cases.

Parliamentary Oversight: The amendments promise more Parliamentary
oversight but, however diligent our Parliamentarians, this could not
provide anything more than a rubber-stamping exercise. The 42 day
limit would still be triggered to keep a particular individual in
custody. This would, therefore, involve Parliament debating individual
cases which could prejudice future prosecutions.

Judicial Oversight: The role of a judge in approving the use of 42
days in individual cases is of little comfort as, before a person is
charged there is, by definition, no evidence for a court to test. No
CPS application to detain a person for between 14 and 28 days has ever
been refused. The courts would not be able to overturn these ?reserve
powers? if triggered in a disproportionate or irrational way or in a
way which breaches human rights.

Please email your MP to ask them to oppose these proposals. More at:

http://www.chargeorrelease.com/

Shall we live in fear and hate or courage, tolerance and hope?

Europe now hangs on the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, “the treaty to end all EU treaties”.

The text strikes the words “free and undistorted competition” from the core objectives of the Union. Corporatist aims will enjoy a higher legal status at the European Court (ECJ) and must prevail if the two clash. The Rhineland Model has locked in a permanent advantage.

Who could claim this Treaty is democratic? Its handling has been characterised by sophistry and deception: it barely differs from the democratically-rejected Constitution.

Those who claim we live in a post ideological age are, at best, wrong.

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Workers accused of theft or damage could soon find themselves blacklisted on a register to be shared among employers. Innocent people could find it impossible to get another job if listed on the online database of workers accused of theft and dishonesty – regardless of whether they have been convicted of any crime.

Here we find more punishment without due process, an extension of the presumption of guilt and subjugation of the individual to another system open to abuse.

Of course employers wish to avoid hiring criminals, but branding people as criminals and punishing them without due process is deeply wrong. The episode is further evidence of the breakdown of the classical Rule of Law.

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