Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

QUEEN'S SPEECH

This week launched us into another year of Westminster cut and thrust with the always splendid state opening of Parliament. We may not be able to play rugby, cricket or football any longer, but by gum we know how to do ceremony!

Terror and crime top the bill again, a sad sign of the times. Let me ask you a direct question: what do you believe about the true state of the terror threat facing our country? How many men and women are there in our midst actually planning to blow us up?

It is a significant question for two reasons. First, we must react to this threat in a proportionate manner. If we are complacent too many will die. If we overreact we will sacrifice for ever too many of the personal freedoms that have helped make this country great.

Secondly it reflects the nation’s current lack of trust. I am a member of the Home Affairs select committee and we get an annual briefing from the head of MI5. It is pretty scary. But even as I listen to her words I struggle with the thought: is this really all true? I am not alone in this. That is the true fall out of the war in Iraq. Until then, the British people had tended to believe their leaders on matters of defence and security. I certainly did. But then in 2002 I voted to send many constituents into a battle zone on the strength of a passionate assurance that Saddam had WMD that could fall into the hands of global terrorists and be a threat to all of us. It turned out to be a load of rubbish.

But where does it leave me and all of you? Having to be more sceptical and exercising our own judgement even though we do not have all of the facts. Since the London bombings last year there can be no doubt that there are terror squads living in our major cities waiting to pounce. I accept that we have to be on our guard, toughen up our terror laws and pour resources into counter-insurgency. But I am watching like a hawk for signs of exaggeration.

It is vital that this lost trust is restored. A period of sustained and gritty truthfulness and a total rejection of spin from Downing Street, whoever is Prime Minister, is the only thing that can do it

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 20, 2006