London
Prime Minister Tony Blair won approval for tough new anti-terrorism laws this week, but only after an extraordinary debate in the House of Lords. The new law allows house arrest without trial for terror suspects, a change that some of the Lords said violated rights the British have treasured since the Magna Carta. This is “a rotten, rotten, stinking bill,” said the Earl of Onslow. The unelected House of Lords usually rubber-stamps any legislation passed by the House of Commons. But it sent the anti-terrorism bill back to the lower house four times, and reluctantly approved it only on the condition that it be re-evaluated next year.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Selfies ban in art galleries: a sign of the times?Talking Point Priceless art has been damaged by visitors desperate to take a snap with star attractions, leading some galleries and museums to start fighting back
-
Quiz of The Week: 21 – 27 JuneHave you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?
