Why is this Labour Government so depressingly authoritarian and so contemptuous of our civil liberties?
ANDY STEWART, MANCHESTER It isn’t. Freedom and our civil liberties are vital to this Government. But freedom takes a number of forms. For example, we have an obligation to defend the public from credible threats to life and limb. We have sought to do this, in the context of preserving the values of our country. Those values allow a strong response to terrorism. Our response has led to the characterisation of the Government as authoritarian – unfairly, especially to a government which introduced the Human Rights Act. We remain amongst the most free countries in the world – because we have always stood up to threats to our freedom robustly. We will continue to do so. Having been the flatmate of the Prime Minister, how much has it helped your career? PETER TALLENTIRE So far it’s not been held against me. What was it like sharing a house with Tony Blair and did he do his share of the washing up? MARCELLA WILLIAMS, BRIGHTON Best draw a veil over that period. Are you the last remaining Blair
