In a roundabout way, HMG admit they were wrong

Justice Minister Jack "Evil Headmaster" Straw has indicated that some of the laws made in the wake of the World Trade Centre (no US spellings here, matey) - seen by many as draconian - may be withdrawn.

"There is a case for going through all counterterrorism legislation and working out whether we need it. It was there for a temporary period," he said in response to a question over whether some of the laws are an infringement of civil liberties and stated that the public perception of them could be counterproductive - by which he chiefly means "may cause people to vote against Labour." Labour have passed approximately one law concerning criminal offences for each day that they have been in power since Tony Blair's electoral success in 1997.

There have been several indications of disquiet amongst Labour MPs desperate to guarantee their own success in the next election over the laws, especially since the Tories - who are currently far in the lead in the opinion polls - have announced their intention to introduce a repeals bill which would make it possible to dispose of laws thought to adversely affect civil liberties.

Er, guys? You forgot "repressive..."

Recent Home Office figures have revealed that of the 1,471 people arrested for suspicion of terrorism between 11.09.01 and 31.03.08, only 340 - around a third - were later charged with offences related to terrorism and a mere 196 have been subsequently convicted.

However, there has been no mention of the moves to introduce ID cards, legislation that would force British citizens to carry means of proving they have the right to live in their own country. Well, it's a start, I suppose, even if it is one that to cynics looks rather an attempt to gain some much-needed support amongst voters.