Reid challenges Brown with secret terror review

[DoYouEverWonder]

5 November 2006

John Reid, the Home Secretary, is running a secret internal Whitehall review of counter-terrorism measures in parallel with a separate Treasury investigation by Gordon Brown.

Fresh anti-terror legislation is set to be promised in the Queen's Speech today, which will also include new action on immigration, organised crime and antisocial behaviour.

The disclosure of the Home Secretary's review will intensify speculation of tensions with the Chancellor over the direction of policy on combating terrorism. Whitehall insiders disclosed that the so-called Reid group is undertaking "blue-skies" thinking, including examining the case for a security council to tackle terrorism, a minister for security and a department for security.

By contrast, Mr Brown has rejected calls for Britain to follow the US in appointing a cabinet minister for internal security, although he is creating a unified intelligence budget to cover MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

The Reid group meets on Thursdays and is chaired by the Home Secretary. It includes the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, the Defence Secretary, Des Browne, Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, and the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1984445.ece

[LynnTheDem]

1. legislation on "antisocial behaviour"

By whose definition? Such as disagreeing with invading nations not doing a damn thing to anyone? Protesting the killing of innocent men, women & kids? Protesting sending our citizens in uniform to die for lies?

That kind of "antisocial behaviour"?

Or the "antisocial behaviour" of those bstards in government who do the above?

[KoKo]

2. It's amazing to me how parallel Great Britain and US are under Blair &

Chimp. Just when we think the Brits can take down Blair he manages to weasel out. Meanwhile the "factions" are warring as to what kind of tightening of regulations over the "people" will be tolerated.

I wonder if our election will hasten Blair's downfall or will he still be allowed to "gracefully" step out of power in May as he planned.

[CJCRANE]

3. My guess

is Reid is the Blairite choice to succeed to the leadership and is playing the terror card to shore up his influence and undermine Brown.

I prefer Brown myself, the Blairites are too tainted by the neocons and are increasingly using similar tactics (even as power slips away from the original neocons in Washington).