[BBKing]

Quite right, Pierre. Throw in the CCA and the anti-terrorism legislation and it all looks part of a very unpleasant pattern.

What's interesting is that this didn't start until the second Labour administration - the first (1997) lot with Straw in the Home Office and Irvine as Lord Chancellor actuallsy swung the other way, in favour of human rights, the rule of law and judicial independence. Falconer and Blunkett are therefore the bad boys here, particularly Blunkett, who has deeply authoritarian instincts akin to those in Burma or Belarus.

Blunkett was on Radio 5 again yesterday afternoon with that smarmy spurs supporting git Simon Mayo - he's been on there about three times since he was forced to resign in disgrace, and always gets a worryingly easy ride (particularly on ID cards, which he blatantly lies about every time I hear him). I'm not sure it's in the BBC's charter to rehabilitate Tony Blair's friends.

According to Private Eye, Blunkett has earned £70,000 since resigning from these appearances and other media work. Coincidentally that's the rental he hasn't paid on his ministerial house, which he's allowed to live in rent-free by Mr. Tony. Didn't see that one in the Labour manifesto - get caught breaking the rules and get a free house. I must try fiddling my expenses and see if it works for me.