Peers inflict defeat on anti-terror bill

[pinkpops]

The government tonight suffered a major blow to its anti-terrorism bill when the House of Lords voted to ensure that all control orders should be made by a judge rather than the home secretary.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/attacks/story/0,1320,1432442,00.html

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Good!

Thank God the nobles scuttled that. I thought I'd never live to see the day that I would want Labour out on its arse.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. This is quite significant

"Peers - believed to have included the former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine - voted to ensure the orders would be made by a judge and not the home secretary, Charles Clarke."

Irvine was Blair's mentor when he became a barrister, and the first Lord Chancellor under Blair. This is the equivalent of George Bush Sr. tell Dubya he's wrong, in public.

[dxdem]

3. I was

trying to follow this very closely, and to me, this is a pretty good development. Gives me just a little bit of hope (that there'll be somewhere to scamper off to, if all else fails ;) )

[Briar]

4. They chose to stand for what was right

Good for them!

I fear I suspect no elected house would have such courage to stand for what was right rather than for what was "safe", what was "expedient" or what was "popular".

(Helena Kennedy - and Martin Luther King - rocks!)

[struggle4progress]

5. Blair heads for showdown over anti-terror measures

By Ben Hall, Political Correspondent
Published: March 7 2005 21:03 | Last updated: March 7 2005 21:03

Tony Blair is heading for a showdown with Labour backbenchers and the House of Lords after peers voted decisively to water down the government's anti-terror measures.

Peers backed by 249 votes to 119 an opposition amendment to give the courts rather than the home secretary the ability to issue all control orders, ranging from mobile phone bans to house arrest. <snip>

The Lords also backed higher standards of proof and assurances on the prosecution of terrorist suspects.

Charles Clarke, the home secretary, must now try to overturn the changes when the bill returns to the Commons on Tuesday, risking a further rebellion by Labour backbenchers. <snip>

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c24d0530-8f4b-11d9-a70f-00000e2511c8.html

[Matilda]

6. That's poetic justice.

When he first came to power, Blair appointed many of his supporters
to the House of Lords in order that he could get more of his
legislation through, so it's his people that have turned against
him now.

[Rex]

7. The nobles are pissed at Tony.

Could this finally be it for the Poodle?

[bvar22]

8. Is this a sign that the pendulum...

..is swinging away from fascist police states and back toward civil liberties and freedom????

[slackmaster]

9. Glad to see the Brits get something right

Separation of powers.

Checks and balances.

Presumption of innocence.

All good ideas and necessary for a free, Democratic society.