Desperation in Downing Street

NOT an ounce of humility. Not a shred of contrition. Licking his wounds in the Downing Street bunker, Tony Blair’s response to defeat on the 90- day terror law is disdain for the rebels who dared to challenge his sovereign majesty.

Listen to his critics? Hardly. Instead he loftily proposes to do more explaining, on the patronising assumption that opponents can’t reach sensible decisions without his guidance. Then Home Secretary Charles Clarke insults our intelligence by taking blame for the whole affair, despite the fact that he repeatedly sought a compromise until – mysteriously! – his mind was changed. More seriously, it emerges that Mr Clarke outrageously compromised the independence of the police by dragging them into partisan politics.

Contrary to repeated denials from Whitehall, aides admit that he asked chief constables to campaign for the anti-terror laws and prevent a Government defeat. Now he claims Labour rebels don’t understand what is at stake. Some are just ‘ ne’er do wells’. Others ‘ don’t fully appreciate the nature of the threat’. The tactic is clear. Mr Blair intends to make a virtue of defeat, presenting himself as a leader committed to fighting terrorism while critics on his own side and both Opposition parties are painted as moral pygmies. Yet what is the reality? On the very day he beat the drum for 90 days’ detention, he was appeasing the IRA with an amnesty for terrorists on the run.

But then, letting murderers off the hook is no big deal for the Mr Blair who has freed hundreds of terrorists from jail – and who repeatedly voted against the Tory Prevention of Terrorism Act, a law far less Draconian than his current proposals. And how very rich that he cites public support for his 90- day measure – this from the man who on the basis of lies ignored the overwhelming opposition of the British people and invaded Iraq. The problem is, Labour MPs have noticed his hypocrisy. No longer are they overawed by his spin and threats. Having tasted blood once, they have an appetite for more and are preparing to wreck Blair’s reforms in health, welfare and most of all his vaunted education Bill.

Yesterday’s defiance from Downing Street may have been intended as a show of strength. Doesn’t it in fact reflect the desperation of a Prime Minister who sees his legacy withering?