WRITTEN ON October 21st, 2008 BY William Heath AND STORED IN Foundation of Trust, Political engagement, What do we want?
Outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald warned that the expansion of technology by the state into everyday life could create a world future generations “can’t bear”.
In his wide-ranging speech, Sir Ken appeared to condemn a series of key Government policies, attacking terrorism proposals – including 42 day detention – identity card plans and the “paraphernalia of paranoia”. Instead, he said, the Government should insist that “our rights are priceless” and that: “The best way to face down those threats is to strengthen our institutions rather than to degrade them.”
Damn right. What a heartening intervention, from somebody who – one assumes – knows quite a lot about that of which he speaks.
He warned that MPs should “take very great care to imagine the world we are creating before we build it. We might end up living with something we can’t bear”. Sir Ken, who has held the post for the past five years, said: “We need to take very great care not to fall into a way of life in which freedom’s back is broken by the relentless pressure of a security State…He added: “It is difficult to see who will maintain a cool head if governments do not. Or who will protect our Constitution if governments unwittingly disarm it.” Britain was right to tackle terrorism and other “medieval delusions” through the courts, he said. This was “in accordance with our constitution”.
Thank you, Friend!
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