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Ex-PM Blasts UK Government on Civil Liberties

Major blasts proposal that OKs 6-week detention without trial

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 6, 2008 11:07 AM CDT

(Newser) – The British parliament is set for a nail-bitingly close vote on a law that will allow the police to hold terror suspects without charge for 42 days—by far the longest in the free world. As Gordon Brown pushes the law and attempts to prevent his first Commons defeat, John Major writes in the London Times that the law is an indefensible part of a new "siege society."

"I don't believe that sacrifice of due process can be justified," writes the ex-PM, arguing that allowing detention without charge will embolden rather than thwart "home-grown terrorists." And other proposed incursions of civil liberties—from mandatory ID cards to bugging to a DNA database—have left Major aghast: "This is not a United Kingdom that I recognize."

John Major, UK prime minister from 1990 to 1997, has come out against proposed anti-terror legislation. (Magnum Photos)

John Major, second from right, UK prime minister from 1990 to 1997, has come out against proposed anti-terror legislation. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver)

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown leaves 10 Downing Street to attend his weekly Prime Ministers Questions session in the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, June 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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Ex-PM Blasts UK Government on Civil Liberties

Major blasts proposal that OKs 6-week detention without trial

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Ex-PM Blasts UK Government on Civil Liberties

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

terrorism • United Kingdom • Gordon Brown • British terror attacks • John Major • detention without trial

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

David Cameron Will Succeed Gordon Brown

Tory-Liberal Dem coalition talks continue

Cameron Says He'll Form UK Government

Conservative Party didn't win majority but got most votes, seats

Gordon Brown Staffers Contacted Bullying Hotline

UK PM's employees reached out 3 or 4 times in recent years

UK Boosts Terror Alert Level

Second-highest designation means attack 'highly likely'

Muslim Cops Slam Brit Anti-Terror Strategy

Say stigmatizing community fosters far-right violence

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