David Davis on Liberty
Thank God for David Davis.
His speech could and should have been made in the House of Commons. It is a disgrace that the Speaker should decline to let him make the speech in the Commons. Yes, the issue was discussed yesterday, but when one of the most prominent English politicians, the shadow Home Secretary no less, resigns both his office and his seat in the House of Commons, he should be heard in the House of Commons. Michael Martin is the embodiment of partisan mediocrity and so perhaps we should not be surprised at his decision.
What is David Davis complaining about?
And there is more. Much more. Soon, if the government has its way, your personal medical details will up uploaded to a state run centralized computer.
- The most intrusive identity card system in the world
- A CCTV camera for every 14 citizens
- a DNA database bigger than in any dictatorship, with 1000s of innocent children and a million innocent citizens on it.
- An assault on jury trials—that balwark against bad law and its arbitrary use by the state.
- Short cuts with our justice system that make our system neither firm not fair.
- the creation of a database state opening up our private lives to the prying eyes of official snoopers and exposing our personal data to careless civil servants and criminal hackers.
- state security powers to clamp down on peaceful protest
- so-called hate laws that stifle legitimate debate
I am appalled at the reaction of the Conservative Party. David Cameron has been trimming. Trimming for political advantage. He has been trying to balance 42-dayers like George Osborne and Michael Gove against libertarians like David Davis.
It is clear that, behind the scenes, David Cameron was underwhelmed by David Davis’ promise that the next Conservative government will repeal this appalling law. Nor is it yet clear if David Davis’ election campaign will be fully supported by the Conservatives, whose leaders are currently describing the campaign as “personal” and “a matter for David Davis".
On Sunday next, we should all raise a glass to Magna Carta and to David Davis.
And for some inside track information see Iain Dale's "David Davis' walk into the unknown"
Labels: 42 days, civil liberty, David Davis, Magna Carta
21 Comments:
His 'courageous' stand is an impotent one. 'I would love it' if Labour didn't field a candidate.
I agree with the 42 days. Thankfully we no longer live in medieval times but there are medieval fundamentalists who would love to propel us back to that era.
I don't feel that my civil liberties have in any way been affected, apart from airport security. Perhaps we should stop that Mr Davies?
I watched this live today on the news and I thought I was imagining it.
Why does government seek to treat an entire nation like cattle slaves due to a handful or terrorist events???????
In this country, more people die from drug abuse in a year than all the people that have been killed from terrorist attacks in the past decade.
You don't stop terrorism and you don't make people safer by taking away freedom and liberty.
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH OUR OWN INITIATIVE AND AND INNATE DESIRE TO PRIVACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
'Soon, if the government has its way, your personal medical details will up uploaded to a state run centralized computer.'
I encourage all my patients to opt out. See:
http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org/?page_id=3
David Davies is a wanker. He's wasting tax payers' money to make his point. He made it last night. He didn't win. Now he's thrown the sweeties out of the pram.
I am glad to see civil liberties pushed to the top of the news.
I live in Northern Ireland and have done so for more than 50 years. Having gone into the darkness & back into the light through the course of my adult life I'll state here that I'm ashamed at the action of the 9 DUP, MP's who were bought for the 42 day vote.
Draconian action by the State has been proven to have been counterproductive in the politics of Ireland.
There still is an honorable politician who is prepared to stand up for his beliefs. Is Davies the only one?
Cameron should throw the whole party machine behind Davies, with Davies in the driving seat. If he doesn't then he will demonstrate that he is, as he has stated he wishes to be, the true heir to Blair.
I am all for locking up terrorists and throwing away the key but I want to ensure that they are terrorists and not just some old duffer who has upset the party hierarchy.
Those who argue for 42 days, or indeed any time longer than the normal criminal investigation allows, would not be so favorable if they, or their friend or family were imprisoned without charge on suspicion of terrorism.
I live in the U.S. and despite the problems we are facing with healthcare, I am still convinced we are better off than going "socialized." I'm wondering why we are so anxious to copy other countries' way of doing things, when many of their citizens are often flying HERE if possible to receive their care?
In my opinion (and it is a humble one, admittedly), the problems we DO have with our healthcare would fade quickly if the govm't would let go. It's all just a symptom of a bigger problem, anyway.
It's interesting to read your blog and see where this all might take us...
well, interesting and... scary. I wish more people over here would take the time to find out for themselves what the REALITY of socialized medicine looks like instead of swallowing the spin and hype. You have some good info here that helped me to do just that...
Thanks.
Jen
Hi
I think he reply his sentence again in his speach.His all speach is a common type.He could not find what is he doing.
Regarding the DNA database, I was under the impression that any samples are taken from suspects or for elination purposes, and are destroyed unless the person is convicted of the crime. And where do the samples from 'innocent children' come in?
I agree that our civil liberties are being eroded far too much in other ways; to me it's a part of the micromanagement this government seems so keen on. However, I do think the DNA database is worth having.
My father works in forensic science and from him I know of many cases where murderers and rapists have been detected through a hit on the database, when the offender has had his DNA retained after being convicted of a more minor, unrelated crime. He's also been involved in reviewing 'cold' cases going back to the days before DNA testing, and applying the new techniques and the database to the stored evidence has resulted in a resolution to several grim cases where the perpetrator had thought he was safe.
Jennifer, you miss the point of those of us who read this blog. We believe in the NHS as a philosophy and as a system for delivering health care. POinting out the chaos caused by our politicians is an attmept to save it, not tear it down. Sure, it has inefficiencies, but it still provides comprehensive health care, especially primary health care, much better than the USA.
As for people flying to the USA for health care, many of them also fly to the UK. It even has its own name, 'health tourism'
Helen:
Do you really think the government will destroy ANY data it has? No, you can get your DNA permanently on record for not paying a train fare when there was no conductor on the train, and for listening to your iPod while wearing black.
About kids, see this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/16/youthjustice.children
In response to Helen, DNA samples are taken of anyone arrested whether DNA will help in their case or not. e.g. protesters outside nuclear sites, drunk and disorderly teenagers etc etc
This is kept for 100 years whether charges are brought or not.
As usual loads more on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_National_DNA_Database
I agree with your post.
The issues raised by David Davis are vital to the future of freedom in this country, and - to the extent that Britain continues to exert an influence - around the world.
And there is more. Much more. Soon, if the government has its way, your personal medical details will up uploaded to a state run centralized computer.
But on the plus side, Brian Cox likes Gordon, and you don't want to mess with Brian Cox
Ok, I seem to have been recalling out of date information (although I know to my cost that Wikipedia is not always correct, the Home Office site I assume is OK). I'm not sure I agree with keeping DNA from people who have not been convicted, although I still maintain that the DNA database as a concept is A Good Thing.
It's interesting that the government, "retained control of the database from the Forensic Science Service in December 2005, when the Forensic Science Service became a GovCo" (from Home Office site) I suspect the government officials might not be such good custodians of such data as the FSS was.
I remember when the GovCo bit happened - everyone in the FSS (except the new management, who mostly aren't scientists) was up in arms about the move, which was seen as the first step in privatising the FSS. No one listened to the employees, of course.
The organisation is now run pretty much as a business and is expected to return a profit - but how can high quality forensic analysis be guaranteed when decisions are made on the basis of cost? (Dad does his best of course :0) - although he's been strongly discouraging me from attempting to pursue a career with the FSS) Different forensic providers have to compete for the "business" of each police force, and of course the cheapest (but not necessarily the best) will win.
Does this have any parallels with the NHS do you think...? This government seems determined to run everything according to market forces - and I think healthcare and forensic science are two areas where this is not really the best approach.
It is good to see some Politicians are still prepared to stand up for their beliefs. Magna Carta is quite an important Document and I find it terrifying that most Politicians treat it with disdain. If ever there was a clear example of dumbing down in Education, this is it as most of our Parliamentary Representatives seem to have no idea of our history.
I just hope he doesn't suffer the same Political fate as Lord Randolph Churchill.
Is he by any chance descended from John Pym (1584-1643)?
David Davis is an arrogant self righteous idiot.
He could easily have made his position known without quiting. Hell, his position IS known.
Instead he has quit, forcing a by-election in his contituency in the hope of someone campaigning against him so he can pretend its a 42 vs anti-42 campaign and in some petty petty way triumph.
Screw the fact that it will cost the electorate umpteen thousands to hold said election.
I'm afraid that Davis has just catapulted himself into political oblivion. A shame because he had potential to succeed Cameron if he had bided his time instead of trying to go it alone.
"I'm afraid that Davis has just catapulted himself into political oblivion."
For a death-penalty supporting tory, Davis will find himself with some unlikely support. I've heard many of the staunchest left-wingers I know singing praises for his stance over the last couple of days. Hell, even a borderline anarchist (a la Chomsky, not the Sex Pistols ;) ) wiberal like me is impressed.
The core of most left-wingers and liberals is, IME, a belief in civil liberties. With Davis' courageous stand, other disagreements can be put on hold.
Of course, you may still be right, as I doubt the above will particularly endear him to Macaroon...
"Of course, you may still be right, as I doubt the above will particularly endear him to Macaroon..."
Not just that, Macaroon will be glad to see the back of his arch-rival for the Tory leadership, were it ever contested again.
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