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HOWARD'S WAY.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

6 October 2005

Saturday’s dreadful bombings in Bali were a lurid reminder that the threat of terrorism is serious and continuing. Only three years ago even more people were killed in Bali. They included the brother of Sue Cooper, a Folkestone resident who will be well known to many of you.

On that occasion Sue and her family had a terrible struggle to get proper help from the Government. This time the Government does seem to have learned some of the lessons. The British Ambassador in Indonesia went to Bali immediately and the support that is so necessary in these circumstances does seem to have been made available to the British nationals who were injured.

What, if any, are the lessons for us here? Bali is a long way away but the harsh and unpalatable truth is that the bombs could go off anywhere and anytime. So we must be strong, resolute and vigilant in our response.

Before long, Parliament will begin the scrutiny of the latest Government proposals to strengthen our anti-terrorist legislation. Much has been said about the need to proceed by consensus.

Consensus is indeed very desirable and I hope we can reach it. Certainly where the case for new laws is made out, I shall support the Government.

But these proposals will need careful and vigorous scrutiny.

Last week in Brighton we saw the sorry spectacle of an 82 year old man having these anti-terrorist laws used against him just because he dissented from the Foreign Secretary’s speech on Iraq. Yet we had previously been assured by the same Foreign Secretary that this legislation would not be used against peaceful demonstrators.

The balance between adequate protection of our citizens and preserving our ancient freedoms is a difficult one to strike. How to achieve it will be likely to preoccupy Parliament for many months to come.