"90 days." "No, how about 30?" "No, at a push we'll take 60 though."

We're going all politics and civil liberties today, inspired by the upcoming vote in the Commons over whether or not detention of terror suspects should be extended from 14 to 90 days.

This is rather exciting for a number reasons. Firstly, there's a chance the UK Government could get turned over on this one for the first time since Blair came to power in 1997. The Lib Dems and the Tories oppose the move and a large number of Labour MPs are planning to vote against.

Secondly, and fundamentally more importantly, this proposed measure once again highlights the steady erosion of civil liberties through 'cover-all' legislation that has been the unpleasant trend in UK Government for at least the last 15 years.

Repeatedly Tony Blair has stated this measure is not his idea, it has been requested by the Police. Forgive me, please, for taking the piss, however why do we have Parliament then? Surely there must be some reason why we don't just let the Police do everything they want? Oh yes, it's called a Judiciary, who are responsible for making sure the laws of this country are applied properly. Perhaps they should feature more in such plans? This 'Police want' stance is poor. Perhaps they would also like free ice cream on demand, does that mean they should have it? Nonsense.

There is an interesting summary, by the BBC, of key quotes in this issue here which highlights how we are now going to, potentially, bargain this out. *Sigh*

When considering the 90 days measure, the parallel could quite easily be drawn with Apartheid South Africa whose detention without trial, also ostensibly to combat terrorism, developed from 90 days to 180 days, to indefinitely. Unfair comparison? Surely a modern, free, democratic nation wouldn't authorise such detention? Oh, umm... I forgot the USA are doing this aren't they? And possibly, it seems, all over the world.

We are not learning the lesson because, I believe, the UK Government is too intent on pursuing its 'climate of fear'. It is still my firm and heartfelt belief that measures such as these will only enhance friction and propogate ill-will. To preach 'democracy' to the world, whilst weakening your own is a blatant, outright and hypocritical failure to do good. I will leave you to consider the reasons why.

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STOP PRESS:

Blair defeated over 90 day motion, Labour rebel 28 day amendment approved

Well, they lost, in the end by 322 votes to 291, but I'll stop short of saying the 'good' won because they've still agreed to double detention without charge to 28 days. People are already talking about Tony Blair in past tense, which seems a little previous, however there is no doubt the Government has taken a fairly serious knock over this - and rightly so.

And bless Clare Short on BBC News 24 after having it put to her that Tony Blair has 'got a bloody nose' today, replied, "Yes, but more importantly he lost the argument... These are enormously serious matters and the case for 90 days wasn't made, in fact the case was made repeatedly that if you create the sense of an unjust state, locking people up for a long time... the chances are you'll increase those who think 'this is an unjust state and I might support the use of violence'... If you haven't even got a minor charge after 14 days, then you haven't got a case."

Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, after saying how pleased she is that MPs have stood up to Blair and inappropriate political campaigning by top Police officers, has also just stated, "There's a danger in becoming too euphoric about 28 days because 90 days was so 'unimaginable', it is still a doubling of the current pre-charge detention period and still a long time not to know the charge against you."

On a slightly more humorous note, Clare Short said she hoped this would hasten Blair's departure, "I just think for his own sake, as well as all the rest of us, it would be so good if he went. And he'd go to America, and give lecture tours, and he'd be happy, and we'd all be better off, and I wish he'd hurry up."