Is Britain now a police state?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-109038 6/Police-state-Britain-MPs-demand-protection-T ory-arrested-revealing-truths-Labour-didnt-wan t-know.html

Tory MPs threatened to disrupt Wednesday's Queen's Speech debate. Veteran former Labour MP Tony Benn said the arrest of an MP amounted to a contempt of Parliament. 'Once the police can interfere with Parliament, we are into the police state,' he said.

Apparently, according to this report the PM was the last to know of this affair, if this is to be believed is Brown now surplus to requirements?

[rov1200]

I think the police are confusing ant-terrorism laws with the official secrets act which every civil servant has to sign. These draconian laws act against every citizen including those that staged a peaceful demonstration in London last year.

[brionon]

Boris can sack a Policeman,but woe betide the Copper who arrests a Member of Parliament.

[Gromit]

I notice that the MPs are asking for themselves to be protected against these bad laws but not for the rest of us.

And who made these laws and who voted for them? The very same MPs who are now whinging.

These laws which are highly flawed and give the state too much power and should be replaced. Some of the laws were rushed in after 9/11 and were not properly thought out. Their subsequent mid-use is grounds enough for them to be looked at again.

[S.K.News.]

....or was wearing an anorak....

[Paul22118]

There are many issues that can be discussed about the arrest of this man. But I simply would like to know this :-

Are Members of Parliament exempt from secrecy laws?

Will the police still be accountable to the Crown Prosecutors?

Will the whole shebang be accountable to a jury made up of US - if it gets that far?

If a member of the public stepped outside the official secrets act or rules of secrecy do you think he or she would be supported by the 'house'? I doubt it.

[brionon]

Paul, Well said. The MP in question is free. How many ordinary Brits have been arrested and freed without charge ? Where were the Political commentators and the Politicians then ? BUT Boris, the Politician, can sack the head of the Met. and all is silence. Humbug.

[Twenty20]

To correct a few of these posts.....the Met chief Sir Ian Blair resigned, he wasnt sacked. He didnt have the support of the Mayor, but then Sir Ian Blair was allied to Nu Labour so it's hardly surprising he decided his face didnt fit anymore.

[brionon]

He went because Boris made his position untenable,but Tory friends can see No wrong in that Plonker.