The new session of Parliament opened today with the sort of breathtaking ceremonial that would impress even the most diehard republican. I have always been a royalist, and the assembly of Queen, Lords and Commons was a tangible manifestation of the system of government that has served this country so well for so many centuries.
The coming session will be dominated by Home Office Bills. The Government appears to be determined to demonstrate the extent to which it is prepared to out-tough the Tories on immigration, terrorism and crime. Consequently, we are to be given yet more of the same old laws.
Since Labour came to power, we have had more than 50 Home Office Bills, much of it redundant legislation. 110 of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2000, for example, are still not in force; 17 were repealed before they ever came into force and another 39 have been repealed subsequently.
We are suffering from legislative overload, when often what is needed is simply effective enforcement of the existing legislation.
We should not forget that the hate-preaching cleric, Abu Hamza, was not convicted under any of the new race and religious hatred laws introduced by the Government. He was imprisoned after being found guilty of an offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
The coming session will be dominated by Home Office Bills. The Government appears to be determined to demonstrate the extent to which it is prepared to out-tough the Tories on immigration, terrorism and crime. Consequently, we are to be given yet more of the same old laws.
Since Labour came to power, we have had more than 50 Home Office Bills, much of it redundant legislation. 110 of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2000, for example, are still not in force; 17 were repealed before they ever came into force and another 39 have been repealed subsequently.
We are suffering from legislative overload, when often what is needed is simply effective enforcement of the existing legislation.
We should not forget that the hate-preaching cleric, Abu Hamza, was not convicted under any of the new race and religious hatred laws introduced by the Government. He was imprisoned after being found guilty of an offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
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