Thursday 19 June 2008

Gordon Brown's take on liberty and security

On Tuesday this week, Gordon Brown delivered a speech on freedom and liberty to defend himself after the resignation of David Davis (not that he would admit to that). You can read the full speech HERE but I thought these quotes did a rather nice job of summarising the lies and contradictions peddled by the government as well as demonstrating the utter contempt that Gordon Brown has for your freedom and liberty. Enjoy! (or not....)


“it is our duty to write a new chapter in our country’s story - one in which we protect and promote both our security and our liberty”

“our border controls are stronger than ever”

“[We must] strengthen the protection of the individual by never subjecting the citizen to arbitrary treatment [and] always respecting basic rights and freedoms.”

“We must recognise that winning the battle of ideas means championing liberty.”

“To say we should ignore the longstanding claims of liberty when faced with the urgent needs of security is tempting to some, but never to me - it would be to embark down an illiberal path that is as unacceptable to the British people as it is to me.”

“Just as when we change our laws to respond to the new terrorist threat, we must match new laws with new protections for liberty”

“[You have] the right to have your identity protected and secure. This is why, despite years of exaggeration about its costs and its implications for liberty, public support for [ID cards] remains so strong.”

“We have no plans for it to become compulsory for people to carry an ID card.”

“So let us not pretend that CCTV is intrinsically the enemy of liberty.”

“the National DNA Database has revolutionised the way the police protect the public.”

“It is simply not responsible government to let such opportunities to use new technologies to protect the public pass us by.”

“And it is a measure of the emphasis that we place on at all times advancing the liberties of the individual that we have in the past year done more to extend freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and freedom of information.”

“To summarise, we have given people new rights to protest outside Parliament, made it easier for people free of charge to exercise their right to Freedom of Information - and we are now considering a freedom of expression audit for all legislation. We have removed barriers to investigative journalism; introduced new freedoms that guarantee the independence of non-governmental organisations; while at the same time surrendering many powers from the executive to Parliament, and thus to greater public accountability and scrutiny.”

“at all times the enduring responsibility remains the same - both protecting the security of all and safeguarding the individual’s right to be free.”


(cross-posted on Letters From A Tory)

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