Comments on: 42 days is dead http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/ If there wasn't one before, it's time we started it... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:04:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: ukliberty http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11342 ukliberty Tue, 27 May 2008 14:02:40 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11342 It aint over 'til it's over. Keep up the pressure. It aint over ’til it’s over. Keep up the pressure.

]]> By: Tom http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11264 Tom Mon, 26 May 2008 15:58:52 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11264 It's not hard to see why scrapping ID cards would be a good move, it's still relatively early in the process, there's barely any support in the country (so you're not going to increase your chances of winning marginals by keeping it), it saves money, not to mention that any firm signing up is going to want big clauses guaranteeing substantial payment if the Tories get in and scrap it. On the debit side, it's likely that a lot of recent systems have been specified and built with the expectation of ID cards being brought in, and what to do with those is a big question. Ideally the transport issue would see the highly unpopular support for the Heathrow third runway scrapped and a firm commitment to a rolling programme of railway electrification replacing it. That would press the right buttons, and indeed the DfT's attitude to the latter has already nearly completed a 180 degree turn since this time last year. It’s not hard to see why scrapping ID cards would be a good move, it’s still relatively early in the process, there’s barely any support in the country (so you’re not going to increase your chances of winning marginals by keeping it), it saves money, not to mention that any firm signing up is going to want big clauses guaranteeing substantial payment if the Tories get in and scrap it.

On the debit side, it’s likely that a lot of recent systems have been specified and built with the expectation of ID cards being brought in, and what to do with those is a big question.

Ideally the transport issue would see the highly unpopular support for the Heathrow third runway scrapped and a firm commitment to a rolling programme of railway electrification replacing it. That would press the right buttons, and indeed the DfT’s attitude to the latter has already nearly completed a 180 degree turn since this time last year.

]]> By: Cabalamat http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11255 Cabalamat Mon, 26 May 2008 15:10:54 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11255 Ideally, ID cards will be the next authoritarian NuLabour idea to be scrapped. Ideally, ID cards will be the next authoritarian NuLabour idea to be scrapped.

]]> By: Sunny Hundal http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11241 Sunny Hundal Mon, 26 May 2008 13:56:39 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11241 I've just seen Jackie Ashley's column in the Guardian, linked above, which also says its dead... I’ve just seen Jackie Ashley’s column in the Guardian, linked above, which also says its dead…

]]> By: Robert Sharp http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11239 Robert Sharp Mon, 26 May 2008 13:34:20 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11239 These authoritarian measures may have a populist element to them, but the Labour government are treading a very fine line here. The narrative for Brown is already one of authoritarianism and dictatorship, an I would expect the emboldened Tories to push their advantage by campaigning strongly against it. 42 days is the wrong headline at the wrong time for Brown. I think his strategists will recognize this, and seek to backtrack. I disagree with Sunny that the issue is dead, however. Insert your Jaws/Fatal Attraction movie parallel here. Instead, the government will seek to water down the proposals, to say 35 days, "after listening to the concerns of backbenchers". The strategy for those opposing the 42 day campaign must be aware of this possibility, and head it off at the pass. Could we find a coalition of Labour/Liberal and Tory MPs to post an amendment <em>reducing</em> the 28 limit. These authoritarian measures may have a populist element to them, but the Labour government are treading a very fine line here. The narrative for Brown is already one of authoritarianism and dictatorship, an I would expect the emboldened Tories to push their advantage by campaigning strongly against it. 42 days is the wrong headline at the wrong time for Brown. I think his strategists will recognize this, and seek to backtrack.

I disagree with Sunny that the issue is dead, however. Insert your Jaws/Fatal Attraction movie parallel here. Instead, the government will seek to water down the proposals, to say 35 days, “after listening to the concerns of backbenchers”. The strategy for those opposing the 42 day campaign must be aware of this possibility, and head it off at the pass.

Could we find a coalition of Labour/Liberal and Tory MPs to post an amendment reducing the 28 limit.

]]> By: thomas http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11233 thomas Mon, 26 May 2008 12:34:11 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11233 There is no point in getting complacent and lifting the pressure - this may well be the issue on which Brown thinks he can succeed on turning round his fortunes by pressing on regardless. It is also the one issue which has direct implications regarding conduct during elections, as the terror legislation has been invoked as a means to prevent environmental demonstrations against airport expansion and therefore should logically have been used against the Labour top hat toffs in C&N. '42 days' is an ideal way of silencing of political opponents and political debate in a democracy by gaining support for anti-democratic measures, particularly since 42 days is approximately the period of a general election campaign. With the increasing politicisation of the police forces, who is to prevent a radical commander from intervening unfairly after this law is passed? It may be the only way Brown could win the forthcoming election! There is no point in getting complacent and lifting the pressure - this may well be the issue on which Brown thinks he can succeed on turning round his fortunes by pressing on regardless.

It is also the one issue which has direct implications regarding conduct during elections, as the terror legislation has been invoked as a means to prevent environmental demonstrations against airport expansion and therefore should logically have been used against the Labour top hat toffs in C&N.

‘42 days’ is an ideal way of silencing of political opponents and political debate in a democracy by gaining support for anti-democratic measures, particularly since 42 days is approximately the period of a general election campaign.

With the increasing politicisation of the police forces, who is to prevent a radical commander from intervening unfairly after this law is passed? It may be the only way Brown could win the forthcoming election!

]]> By: Lee Griffin http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11219 Lee Griffin Mon, 26 May 2008 11:26:23 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11219 Like the other commentators here, I'd love for you to be right but Brown has ploughed on with his initiatives regardless before...I guess at least very soon we'll understand just how far his tenacity goes. Like the other commentators here, I’d love for you to be right but Brown has ploughed on with his initiatives regardless before…I guess at least very soon we’ll understand just how far his tenacity goes.

]]> By: Alan Thomas http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11209 Alan Thomas Mon, 26 May 2008 08:54:37 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11209 I hope you're right Sunny but I think they might make a fight out of it. After all, the 42 day thing is precisely in keeping with the revolting and xenophobic authoritarianism that was in evidence during the Crewe and Nantwich campaign. Evidently somewhere in the Westminster village there's a room full of pillocks in suits who think that right-wing sloganeering is the way to get the estates back on board. I hope you’re right Sunny but I think they might make a fight out of it. After all, the 42 day thing is precisely in keeping with the revolting and xenophobic authoritarianism that was in evidence during the Crewe and Nantwich campaign. Evidently somewhere in the Westminster village there’s a room full of pillocks in suits who think that right-wing sloganeering is the way to get the estates back on board.

]]> By: cjcjc http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11207 cjcjc Mon, 26 May 2008 08:22:44 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11207 Let's hope you're right. ID cards next winnable battle - though here at least the Tories have committed to cancelling any contracts which might have been signed. Let’s hope you’re right.
ID cards next winnable battle - though here at least the Tories have committed to cancelling any contracts which might have been signed.

]]> By: Michael http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11206 Michael Mon, 26 May 2008 08:02:23 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/26/42-days-is-dead/#comment-11206 It would be very out of keeping with Brown's personality though. On balance, I'm still going for a month of minor concessions, smearing of opponents for being "soft on terror" and a narrow squeak of a victory that keeps Brown in power while weakening him still further. David Cameron, meanwhile, will loudly denounce the bill, then make quietly sure it stays on the statute books if he becomes leader... It would be very out of keeping with Brown’s personality though. On balance, I’m still going for a month of minor concessions, smearing of opponents for being “soft on terror” and a narrow squeak of a victory that keeps Brown in power while weakening him still further.

David Cameron, meanwhile, will loudly denounce the bill, then make quietly sure it stays on the statute books if he becomes leader…

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