recently, thelactivist pointed me towards this story of an asylum seeking mother separated from her breastfed newborn.
A Home Office spokeswoman denied that guidance had not been followed or that Ms Maseko had been refused help at Yarl’s Wood. But she said: “We do not comment on individual cases.”
Hm, I think it’s time they commented. I shall be dropping a quick, though convoluted line to my MP on this and the following topics.
Seems that the new broom in no 10 may be determined to make his mark by going further in the quest to squash civil liberties than his predecessor. Shame, I was hoping for a wave of common sense to drift in with him, but as I didn’t vote for his predecessor, him or his party, I guess I, like the majority in this country, get no say in this matter. So we find that they are still trying to hide details about the id cards, despite an order to disclose information. But Brown appears to think id cards have more uses than just fighting terrorism (that was why we needed them wasn’t it?)
Aside from the numbers game, Brown’s opening speech for the leadership contest gave an indication of how he might review identity cards as an instrument of new labour social policy. He indicated more of the same by repeating the mantra of “rights and responsibilities”. But then weaved in the idea of economic and social entitlement into one utilitarian view of civil liberties: “Fairness not just for some but all who earn it.”
But don’t worry, Brown has pledged not to put civil liberties at risk
over plans to introduce new anti-terror laws.
Mr Brown wants to give police more powers – including holding suspects without charge for more than 28 days – when he takes over as prime minister.
All I can say is that this appears to be a new and interesting definition of civil liberties to the one I’m familiar with.
If any of this bothers you, please feel free to bother your MP – I like to use writetothem, although I do actually have my MPs phone number and address as well 😉
Leave a Reply