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Britain
Blair Suffers Major Defeat on Terror Bill
2005-11-10
In a political blow to Prime Minister Tony Blair, British lawmakers on Wednesday rejected tough anti-terrorism legislation that would have allowed suspects to be detained for 90 days without charge. The House of Commons vote was the first major defeat of Blair's premiership and raises serious questions about his grip on power. Blair had staked his authority on the measure and doggedly refused to compromise.

Lawmakers, including 49 members of Blair's Labour Party, opted instead for a maximum detention period for terror suspects of 28 days without charge. Michael Howard, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said Blair's authority had "diminished almost to vanishing point" and said he should consider resigning. "This vote shows he is no longer able to carry his own party with him. He must now consider his position," said Howard.
Posted by:Fred

#7  I'm not sure. Not sure why the police should hold a citizen WITHOUT CHARGE for more than 4 weeks.

I think 28 days was right. this is a classic Blair move offer an extreme alternative to make sure prefered mid option passes.

Americans should be very wary of making law that is convenient to beurocrats at the expense of liberty.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2005-11-10 16:27  

#6  Its the whole shizophrenic Western World that needs their morning eye-openers: 9-11 not enough, Spain, London, Israel, Iraq...not enough. Just like in America we have moonbats on the left and right, demeaning our cause and what we fight for, all angling for political advantage while our blessed soldiers endure. That Blair could come this far in the present British climate amazes me. Reminicent of the England of Churchill (not Ward) I admire.
Posted by: Bardo   2005-11-10 14:37  

#5  Never mind. They'll rise it to 90 days after the next terror attack.
Posted by: gromgoru   2005-11-10 11:18  

#4  It is difficult for us Americans to follow this.

In our country people can be detained without being charged for long periods for reasons such as being material witnesses, or for their own protection. One reason for this is that the threshold for charging a person with a crime is pretty high. It may be a bit different in Britain.
Posted by: mhw   2005-11-10 08:44  

#3  Are the Tories as fucked up as the Moonbat morons?

Apparently, unfortunately, yes. That is why they no longer win elections and we come, rightly, to look at a socialist, eurocentric, iconoclast, PCer like Tony as our second best (to John Major of Oz) ally in the war on terror. And in Gordon Brown, we get a Scottish,socialist, eurocentric, iconoclast, PCer who will at least remain our second strongest ally. Thereafter?
Posted by: Shamp Grinesing9012   2005-11-10 08:26  

#2  From the noise they have been making about this for months it appears so PD. The BBC is happy as hell about it. I reality it means almost nothing. I believe the Law Lords would have struck it down if the House of Lords ever passed it.
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom   2005-11-10 05:14  

#1  ""This vote shows he is no longer able to carry his own party with him. He must now consider his position," said Howard."

I can understand how Howard might say this for partisan effect, but did he and the Conservatives actually work against this measure? Are they that politically irresponsible regards the safety of UK citizens?

I've come to expect such self-defeatist / self-hate / scorched-earth stupidity from our Dhimmidonk dickheads, and probably from your Scottish Nationalist Party leader Alex Salmond and the spectrum of similar ilk, but from the Tories? Are the Tories as fucked up as the Moonbat morons?
Posted by: .com   2005-11-10 02:51  

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