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Terrorism Bill

My Lords, I am reminded by my noble friend Lord Gilbert that the word I was searching for is ““equitable””, rather than equable. The terrorists, so far we can see, lack any sympathy for such concepts. I argue, therefore, for the police to be given a reasonable opportunity to prepare their case against the alleged terrorists, but not to ignore the inroads into civil liberties which that concession brings. We are, of course, debating a compromise. Yet it is one which is workable—a compromise not oblivious to the civil liberties which we need to hold dear, especially when they are under attack.