Today's report by the independent reviewer of terrorism laws is unusual, in that it is independent and it has reviewed the terrorism laws. For a long time, David Anderson's predecessor, Lord Carlile, basically undertook the job as if he was a Home Office minister. That all changed today, when it became clear Anderson's report was going to make life very difficult for the home secretary.
Her plans for a snoopers' charter are all-but written off by the independent reviewer, who suggests the government is going to need some very thorough and specific evidence for such an expansion in its powers. Theresa May is currently telling the Commons about the report, but you can tell from her tone that she is unhappy. Opponents of her plans now have a spotlessly impartial, independent source to rest their arguments on. She may have got rid of the Lib Dems, but there are still plenty of thorns around waiting to work their way into her side.
We also take a peek at George Osborne's plans to make left-wing economics basically legally, with a law preventing future deficits in 'normal times'. Quite what normal times means will be one of the many dubious pleasures to be had tracking the bill through parliament. But before he has even got that far he is already being criticised for constitutional illiteracy and financial incompetence. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment