A poll in today’s Telegraph suggests 65 per cent of the electorate supports an extension of pre-trial detention for terrorist suspects to 42 days. The only surprising thing about that figure is how low it is.

I spoke to a Tory frontbencher last week, who effectively admitted that in government his party would be far more likely to support this kind of measure, on the basis that a government’s first duty is protection of the country’s citizens, whereas the duty of the opposition… isn’t, really. Pretty shameful attitude. Labour, in the years BT*, voted regularly against the annual renewal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Only under Tony did we come to our senses and realise that only parties which take security seriously in opposition can be trusted with government.

The same is true today. The 42 days clause should be supported, not because it’s popular (though it is) but because it will help protect people. If the Tories understand this but oppose it for party political reasons, then they are not fit to govern.

*Before Tony

Visit Tom's blog (if you can stomach it).

According to this Clegg is to back the Tories in a hung parliament - I wonder what the likes of Lynne Featherstone and Sarah Teather think of his plan to slaughter their majorities for the sake of some power?

In a thoughtful article in today's Guardian (9 May), Ken Livingstone calls on Labour to learn the lessons from last week's elections in London.

Sad to hear LibDem peer Shirley Williams' cheap and wholly unwarranted attack on the police on Any Questions this weekend.

http://fairdealphil.blogspot.com/2007/10/tories-in-turmoilnot-my-headline.html#links

http://fairdealphil.blogspot.com/2007/10/camerons-cap-doesnt-fit.html#links

There's an interesting blog here looking into the claims by the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith, Shaun Bailey, that he runs a grassroots charity in North Kensington. 

The blog's author -  someone called Ivan Pope - has been trying to find out what this charity is, and has come up with blanks.

Not trying to imply that Shaun Bailey doesn't do what he says he does, but you'd think there'd be some information about it somewhere, especially with the media profile he's developing...