Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
- William Pitt the Younger, House of Commons, 18 November 1783.

So here we are today with the Home Office, understandably, under siege. And, of course, I don't say, for a moment that mistakes haven't been made, that competence or lack of it has not been a serious complaint. But I do say that it is a complete delusion to think that simply by changing Ministers, civil servants or practices, the gap I referred to earlier [between what the public expects and what the public sees], is going to be bridged. It isn't. I have learnt many things in 9 years of Government and that is one of them.
- Tony Blair argues that it is necessary to infringe human freedom to protect the "law-abiding majority", 23 June 2006.

We've travelled a long way since the Eighteenth Century. But in which direction are we moving now?

Time is pressing today. More on Blair's speech later. Possibly.

Tags: News, Politics, Civil Liberty, Tony Blair