Harriet Harman attacks Blairite spin.

Two cheers for Harriet Harman condemning the front page story about the government seeking Stop and question? powers to fight? terrorism. Readers of this website will know I thought this was one of the more ludicrous ideas that has come from this spin mad government. Now we learn from Harriet that the idea had not been discussed by Cabinet and the police had not been consulted.

??I would like to believe her when she says that a Gordon Brown government will do things properly. If a Home Secretary wishes to change police powers and the style of policing he should first discuss it with the police and in his own department. When he has a scheme that they think can work, he should then take it to the relevant Cabinet committee for approval, where collective discussion should tease out more of the problems and pitfalls. If it passes that test he should then seek a date from the Leader of the House and the Speaker’s Office to make a Statement to Parliament, where he should expect cross examination to test it out further. Following the Statement he should brief the press.

It seems a long time ago that policy went through these hoops before implementation. It seems strangely old fashioned, but it is a system which worked much better. It got rid of silly or unworkable ideas before they saw the light of day, and meant Ministers were properly prepared to defend the proposals and to implement them by the time they brought them to the House. I hope it is the future as well as the past.

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