UK Parliament / Open data

Terrorism Bill

Proceeding contribution from Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 26 October 2005. It occurred during Debate on bills on Terrorism Bill.
My hon. Friend makes a good point. I am pleased to be participating in a debate of such quality. There was a failure of intelligence on 7 July and all the legislation in the world would not have prevented what happened. I am sure that all those who represent communities that were directly affected by the events in the summer and the revelations of their links with west Yorkshire would agree—I hope that we would all reach this conclusion—that the solutions to address what happened on 7 July must come from those communities. The message is simple and clear. I cannot understand the strange conclusion that the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) reached, but I agree with and welcome the conclusion of the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing). Yes, there are aspects of the Bill with which I and the community that I represent agree. However, other measures in the Bill, most notably clause 23, which will allow the detention of people for up 90 days—or three months, which, as the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) pointed out, is the equivalent of a six-month prison sentence—are creating fear in my community. The provision is already causing division, mistrust and fear. The clause is too serious to allow me to vote in favour of the Bill, so I am pleased to say that I shall not do so, and nor will my party and many hon. Members on both sides of the House.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
438 c400-1 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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