There are times when I surprise myself. My socialist-heartland upbringing should mean that I am revolted by the idea that a bunch of priveliged and landed gentry, the "them" of the British "us and them", should comprise the unelected upper house of my home country's government, with power of veto over the lawmaking of the people's elected representatives. But I have to confess to a soft spot for that crowd of sometimes eccentric, crotchety and usually ancient nobles. They have, far more often than expected, produced a timely balance to a government who have gone a little power-mad due to a large majority in the Commons. Never more so, and in a more flagrant fashion, than today.
The Guardian reports that the Law Lords, the final appeal of the British legal system made up of a panel of enobled judges, have ruled that "detaining foreigners without trial under emergency anti-terror legislation breaks European human rights powers."
Experts said today's decision would probably force the government to repeal the section of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 which has permitted the indefinite detention of foreigners.
The law lords, making the ruling in the chamber of the House of Lords, described the legislation as "draconian" and "anathema" to the rule of law.
The Law Lords ruled eight to one in favour of the detainees, and even ordered the Government to pay the detainees court costs
There are now at least eight "class-enemies", as some from my hometown would put it, whom I would happily buy a drink for - but I still wouldn't bow.
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