Website Column: mid-June

Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Mon 16th Jun 2008

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If 42's the answer, what's the question?

While the Government won the vote on 42 day detention in the House of Commons, the debate now moves to the House of Lords

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Some weeks in politics are quiet and in others just about everything happens. Last week was one of those.

The Government secured its legislation to lock up people for up to six weeks without charge but only with the support of the nine Democratic Unionist MPs from Northern Ireland. That's therefore the last time Labour can accuse the Tories of relying on Unionist support.

What is more extraordinary about this is the lengths the Government have gone to achieve such a draconian piece of legislation against the opposition of even the former Attorney General and in the certain knowledge that it will be blocked in the Lords and probably rejected by the European Court of Human Rights.

The concessions offered also appear unworkable. No Home Secretary could give the House of Commons a reason for the detention without prejudicing any future trial. So MPs would be presented with a take it or leave it situation which they could hardly oppose in ignorance of the facts.

In Douglas Adams Sci-fi comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy the answer to the ultimate question was 42 prompting the response if that's the answer what's the question?

According to opinion polls the public are in support of the Government. Well, of course people want to support anti terrorist measures but I suspect if you ask people if they approve of locking up innocent people without charge they would not agree.

Another question is what affect it will have on alienating the communities from which most suspects will be drawn. Certainly, internment in Northern Ireland had to be abandoned because of the resentment it caused among Catholics.

So this saga will run on into next year at least.

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Davies by-election simply bizarre

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If the 42 day rule was not dubious enough it was overshadowed by the bizarre decision of David Davies, Shadow Home Secretary, resigning to fight a by-election.

Arguably the opponents of 42 days had won the argument and he had played his part and would have continued to do so.

It appears he had a confrontation with his leader David Cameron who was equivocal on the issue and chose to take his frustration to the country in a pointless by-election which he may well win but will prove nothing other than to demonstrate all is not sweetness and light with the Tories.

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Beginning of two-speed Europe?

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No sooner were the media reacting to David Davies than that event was followed by the Irish voters' rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum causing turmoil for the future workings of the EU.

The result can neither be ignored nor discounted. It requires the leadership of Europe to find ways of engaging people in the decision making process and making it more transparent.

Ever closer Union?

Certainly the European Commission's accounts need to be sorted out as well as MEPs' expenses.

At the same time there has to be much better explanation of why EU decisions need to be better streamlined and why the EU needs to speak more often with one voice if Europeans are not to be marginalised in world events as strong powers like the USA, China, India and Russia can act while we are still deliberating.

Perhaps we need to decide what we mean by democracy. A complicated treaty does not easily lend itself to a simple Yes or No vote and the opponents of the Treaty in Ireland gave a multitude if often contradictory reasons for their vote.

Would it be democratic if 500 million citizens across Europe agree a course of action and 4 million could block it? Because Ireland alone had a referendum?

That is not the case this time but clearly states that really do want to move closer together are not going to allow one small country to stop them.

Is this the end of the EU? I don't think so. But almost certainly the Irish vote marks the beginning of a two speed Europe with Britain and Ireland - and some others - in the slow lane.

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Have your say on Post Offices

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There is still time to make your views known on the proposed post office changes in Rhynie, Kennethmont, Lumsden and Collieston

Consultation over the future of our rural post offices moves up a gear in the next two weeks. Meetings and soundings of opinion have been going on in a few communities.

I have distributed material to all the affected areas inviting comments and opinions. On Monday July 7 just before the consultation ends the Royal Mail have agreed to attend a public meeting at the Community Hall, Rhynie at 7.30 p.m.

I know people will be pressing a strong case for more opening hours and for different opening days in some communities.

The Royal Mail has already had to correct its posters and leaflets for Kennethmont which wrongly suggested the new hours would be Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Royal Mail need to hear and respond to local concerns and explain exactly how the new arrangements can serve the community.

I urge people to make their views known as strongly as possible.

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Marking 25 years in Parliament

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Another memorable milestone was passed last week. June 9 marked the 25 anniversary of my election to the House of Commons as MP for Gordon. On the same date in 1983 Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were also elected.

Malcolm with his Liberal MP colleagues outside the House of Commons in 1983

Of my own colleagues Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy, Jim Wallace, Alex Carlile and Archy Kirkwood (the last three all in the House of Lords) entered Parliament on the same day.

Simon Hughes was elected in a by-election in March 1983 and he Charles Kennedy and myself as three still serving MPs are having a party for friends and colleagues in London.

My local party is having a modest celebration at which I will be selected to contest the next general election and later in the year the party leader Nick Clegg will be attending the Gordon Liberal Democrats annual dinner at the Marriott in Dyce.