David Davis' Resignation and fight over civil liberty

[Roland Perry]

In article <48525A3D.1050509@callnetuk.com>, PeteM <otcbn@callnetuk.com> 
writes
>what may be called "Roland's Argument". This runs, "But you didn't 
>object to the 1911 Official Secrets Act when it was being debated in 
>Parliament, which was the right and proper time to object to measures 
>of this type. Therefore it is inconsistent of you to object to the 2009 
>Silencing of All Opposition Act, which merely modernises the 1911 Act 
>to remove its unacceptably discriminatory nature and makes it fit for 
>purpose in today's War on Terror."

Would I really say that? In between 1911 and 2009 that argument might 
have some traction, but each new bit of legislation is entitled to be 
debated properly, albeit building upon commonly accepted practice from 
earlier legislation (or even earlier non-legislation like the Magna 
Carta).
-- 
Roland Perry