Since Tony Blair became Prime Minister in 1997, the Labour government has made some very poor decisions, but the latest one tops them all. With Britain's towns and cities plagued by the effects of binge drinking, the government has decided the best solution is, yes you guessedn it, to allow pubs to open 24 hours a day, for more drink to be consumed, for more and more incidents of violent crime as a result. They claim that this legislation will encourage a more 'mature' attitude among drinkers. Rubbish. The only thing that extended drinking hours will do is create further nuisance for those who live near such establishments, for the police, and for the medical staff who already have to deal with thousands of people staggering from the pub and into the emergency department. Yet again, the Labour government has used extremely poor judgement in making crucial decisions, and it is the public who will suffer the consequences. Yet again, they have ignored the views of the public. While the vast majority of the British public is opposed to extended licensing, the government has ploughed through misguided, and quite frankly stupid, legislation. This Labour government really has lost the plot, that is of course presuming they ever had it in the first place.

Yesterday, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, Britain fell silent. It is important that we remember, and pay our respects to, the brave men and women who have been killed in battle fighting for their country, not just in the two World War's, but in all the conflicts which have followed. Although I was not around at the time of either World Wars (and was a mere 2 years old at the 1st Gulf War), I have great admiration for those who are prepared to go into such dangerous situations in order to protect us, and I am without doubt that this is a feeling held by the vast majority of British people. Once again, the country is united in tribute to our fallen soldiers. We will never forget.

Yesterday saw the government's controversial proposals on holding terror suspects for 90 days without charge were sensationally rejected by MPs. Not only did Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs vote no on this unneccessary and totally illiberal proposal, but many Labour MPs decided to go against Tony Blair on this crucial vote, a further example of Blair's dwindling authority over not only Parliament but his own Party. It is clear that Tony Blair's reign is now fast approaching it's end. Ever since the goverment brought forward it's plans to toughen laws on terrorism (heckling at Labour conferences and such very serious offences!), the Liberal Democrats have been firm in their opposition to the total disregard for civil liberties in this country. Now it has emerged that we are not the only ones who see 90 day detention periods as totally exaggerated and unnecessary. The fact that Tony Blair's very own MPs disagree fundamentally with his proposals goes some way to revealing the true extent of his ever decreasing support among his own Party.