42 days detention

Readers will be aware of the UK Labour Government narrowly winning a vote in the House of Commons to allow authorities to hold someone for 42 days without charges being laid.

It will now go to the House of Lords for a vote, and as WIll de Cleene points out a new Lord has oppossed the law in her maiden speech:

“I have weighed up the balance between the right to life – the most important civil liberty – the fact that there is no such thing as complete security, and the importance of our hard-won civil liberties. Therefore, on a matter of principle, I cannot support 42 days’ pre-charge detention. I do understand different views and that there are judgements honestly reached by others, and I respect these views.”

So who is the soft on law and order Lord? Her name is Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller.

Oh yes – should also mention her former job. It was Director-General of MI5.