Terror Suspect Payout Taxpayer Terror Horror

A judge has quashed two control orders - house arrest, in Oldspeak - and brought the Minister for Domestic Espionage squeaking indignantly to the fore. Beyond the purely formal matters of mere human rights, the judge had raised the possibility "in principle" that those subjected to control orders on "secret evidence" - no evidence, in Oldspeak - might be able to claim compensation from the Government, albeit in low amounts; and since New New Labour is already strapped for cash now that its erstwhile chums are turning Tory again, this is an even more serious business than the prospect of doling out money to the multiculturally minoritous usually is.

It does not appear that any of Daveybloke's Cuddly Cabinet were available to comment on the matter; presumably because, as usual, they agree with everything New New Labour are doing but believe a Conservative government could do it a little more profitably for the members of the said Conservative government. Accordingly, the ex-shadow Minister of Unfitness for Purpose, David Davis, was permitted to beg once more for liberty or death: "Whilst I believe that control orders are ill-conceived, and both draconian and ineffective in their actions, the idea that subjects should be awarded compensation is in my judgment entirely wrong," he said. It is one thing to consider a law unjust, and another thing entirely to believe that anyone who suffers injustice as a result of that law ought to have some sort of recompense; especially when one's own party will probably be in government when the bill falls due.