We learned last week that MI5 are tracking 30 terrorist plots in the UK and monitoring 1600 people for security reasons. Scary stuff.

Scary stuff which is certain to be used to justify further erosion of civil liberties with policies such as control orders, detention without trial and compulsory ID cards.

Of course I'm sure that's it's just coincidence that this report has come after a fortnight where Britain was dubbed a surveillance society and Tony Blair yet again tried desperately to justify ID Cards. Oh, and it was also the week before the week before the Queen's Speech which will probably contain yet more law 'n' order measures. Pure coincidence.

The timing is, of course, just a lucky break for Blair. And there can be no suggestion that the report might have "sexed up" to justify an authoritarian government curtailing out civil liberties still further.

Which is not to say that the threat from terrorists isn't serious - of course it is. So here's a thought that might cheer you up:

If the government continue removing our freedoms and destroying our way of life then there will be nothing left for the terrorists to do and we'll all be safe.

The threat from terrorists is serious. The threat from Blair is worse.

Blair UK politics ukpolitics