When the House of Lords throws out the scheme to bang people up for six weeks without even so much as charging them with anything, let the bonfire be lit, and let it burn, burn, burn.
Let the fire of liberty consume identity cards, control orders, the admission of anonymous evidence other than from undercover Police Officers, the provision for conviction on anonymous evidence alone, the existing erosions of trial by jury and of the right to silence, the existing reversals of the burden of proof, the provision for majority verdicts (which, by definition, provide for conviction even where there is reasonable doubt), the provision for Police confiscation of assets without a conviction, stipendiary magistrates, Thatcher’s Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Civil Contingencies Act, the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act, and the Official Secrets Acts.
And once the fire has done its work, let us rebuild Britain. Where the minimum age for jurors is at least 21. Where the pre-1968 committal powers of the magistracy, and the pre-1985 prosecution powers of the Police, have been restored. Where we have preventative policing based on foot patrols, with budgetary sanctions against recalcitrant Chief Constables who failed to implement this. Where Police Forces are at least no larger than at present, and subject to local democratic accountability, most obviously though Police Authorities, but if appropriate by means of elected sheriffs.
Where each offence carries a minimum sentence of one third of its maximum sentence, or of 15 years’ imprisonment where that maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Where cannabis is a Class A drug, with a crackdown on the possession of drugs, including a mandatory sentence of three months for a second offence, six months for a third offence, one year for a fourth offence, and so on.
And where a Bill which runs out of parliamentary time is lost at the end of that session.
Make it happen.
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...and a certain party wants a PERMANENT third of all seats. So much for democracy!
ReplyDeleteWhich one's that, then?
ReplyDeleteYours, according to the website:
ReplyDelete"BPA parliamentarians will implement a form of electoral reform such that conservative parties would always enjoy at least one third of the seats in either House of Parliament."
Perhaps it is from one of these 'fake' groups you are complaining about, but at the bottom of the page it does say "Promoted by David Lindsay on behalf of the British People’s Alliance," and the address looks 'right': http://www.britishpeoplesalliance.org.uk/for-commonwealth-patriots/
But on another page we find this:
"BPA parliamentarians will implement a form of electoral reform such that parties of the Left or with roots in the Labour Movement would always enjoy at least one third of the seats in either House of Parliament."
This too looks perfectly 'alright': http://www.britishpeoplesalliance.org.uk/for-social-democrats/
So I was incorrect the other day, the BPA wants a PERMANENT two-thirds for itself or allies, and all this leaves out the Greens, who are allowed a sixth of seats, in the BPA's 'left-wing' version of itself.
So by my reckoning, only the sixth of the seats which remain would ever be available for the electorate to "kick the b******s out." So much for democracy! You have said the BPA constitution prevents demagogues. You are pulling my leg? Aren't you?
Still, given your antipathy to trotskyists and communists, the "or with roots in the Labour Movement" comment looks rather generous.
(Asterisks above to protect anyone living on 'Planet Lindsay' who does not know the word in question.)
You can't add up.
ReplyDelete