The Conservative leadership is keen to win the backing of The Sun ahead of the next election but national security issues threaten a Tory-Murdoch reconciliation. When Messrs Cameron and Davis voted against Labour’s 90 day detention plans the two Davids were dubbed Dumb & Dumber by Britain’s best-selling newspaper.
In an article for today’s Sunday Telegraph Mr Cameron attempts to re-establish his homeland security credentials. The Conservative leader argues that there is no contradiction between “security and freedom” or “toughness and liberalism”. He accuses Labour of playing political games over the glorification clause of the Terrorism Bill and with ID cards:
“Mr Blair and Mr Brown are persisting with ID cards not because they will be an effective check on terrorism, but because they think they sound tough.”
Mr Cameron offers two main alternatives to Labour’s “ineffective authoritarianism”:
- Diversion of the billions that will be “wasted” on ID cards into “measures that will protect our security today”. Those, he writes, include “proper border controls, more resources for the security services, [and] more police.”
- More enforcement of existing laws. The Conservative leader asks why it took Labour so long to act against Abu Hamza. A leader in The Sunday Telegraph agrees that this is the right question to ask. It concludes:
“There are already enough laws on the statute books to tackle Islamic terrorism. The Government has not been prepared to use them. Only by confronting the radical Islamists head-on, and forging a united front with other European nations to defend the values of a liberal and tolerant society, can we defeat the extremists. The problem is that this Government has not yet proved willing to do it.”
Good. It's nice to see Cameron saying things like this.
Posted by: Elena | February 12, 2006 at 11:12
Diversion of the billions that will be “wasted” on ID cards into “measures that will protect our security today”.
Yeah Right! The money has already been spent.
Co-incidentally, I just posted a comment related to this on my blog yesterday.
A friend of mine told me that her company has been working on and developing these ID cards for about 2 years now, and it's no big secret either.
I do not understand if this is a regular occurrence, i.e. money being spent on a scheme that is yet to receive parliamentary approval.
Can someone confirm if the government is allowed to do this? If not, we should be getting our MPs to ask questions on how much has been spent!
Posted by: Biodun | February 12, 2006 at 11:24
Biodun: Can someone confirm if the government is allowed to do this? If not, we should be getting our MPs to ask questions on how much has been spent!
It will all depend on the wording of the relevant parliamentary supply votes. I would imagine these are quite general, and the Home Office at present has a wide remit with five aims (click here for latest waffle-speak).
Any half decent lawyer could justify expenditure on a research programme to investigate the possibility of ID cards as a means of, for example, making people safer, or feeling safer - particularly if ID cards have been trailed as an 'idea worth exploring' in the annual Home Office Estimates debates.
What the Home Office cannot do is spend money preparatory for the full-scale implementation of ID cards prior to legislation enacting them. Although, a breach of the parliamentary vote is a matter to refer back to the Commons - and it's just possible the Commons might forgive the Government. Still, nice embarrassment value. And if Clarke is thinking of challenging Brown for the succession to Blair, he might be short of allies in any vote.
What is required, then, is further background research into the various parliamentary votes and what is actually happening on the ground. That sounds like an excellent role for an informed, committed webblog. Oh, if only there was one with an interest in this subject....
Posted by: William Norton | February 12, 2006 at 18:34
As one of Cameron's most ardent critics I have to say thet I welcome these comments.
Posted by: Richard Allen | February 12, 2006 at 19:30
Yes, well done Cameron.
Posted by: Matthew Oxley | February 12, 2006 at 20:32
I dissent. This article is totally empty on contents, just slogans I'm afraid.
Posted by: Harvey | February 12, 2006 at 20:42
Good move. At the Tory conference (is it soon?)
We really need a powerful speech by cameron, I think his position needs consolidating with a a fresh reminder to the public.
Posted by: Jaz | February 12, 2006 at 23:26
The spring conference is April 6th-8th I think Jaz.
As regards the speech ,well done Cameron.I'm also looking forward to seeing a lot of DD on the same subject this week.I hope he makes the most of his opportunity.
Posted by: malcolm | February 13, 2006 at 09:38