Government losing its way?

Written by Annette Brooke MP and published in Mid Dorset Mail on Mon 21st Aug 2006

Crisis in the Middle East, threats from terrorism are intensifying, airport chaos... and yet Parliament in is recess until October 9th. I have joined many other MP's in requesting a recall of Parliament. Who currently responds to this request - the Goverment! I firmly believe that there ought to be a mechanism whereby Parliamentarians rather than the Government of the day makes such a decision. After all we live in a democracy and it should be possible to call Government to account at times of national and international crisis.

Meanwhile, the Home Secretary's description of his Department as 'not fit for purpose' is endorsed day by day. Did you know that more than 3000 new criminal offences have been created during this Governments 9 year tenure, one for almost every day it has been in power. We now hear the Home Office is drawing up plans to release thousands of prisoners early to free up cells in overcrowded jails! I believe we need a coherent plan from the Home Office, not a series of panic measures.

In addition, it has been revealed that the Government has lost more than 24,500 security passes, giving access to military sites. How confident can we be about our safety and security?