I was planning to write a spiel about the government’s dreadful plans for house arrest on the whim of the Home Secretary. However, since Chris Lightfoot has already said what I was planning to say, I’ll suggest you read that instead.

The soundbites of the debate shown on TV last night were particularly dispiriting. I heard rhetoric about balancing civil liberties with national security and about Charles Clarke having a responsibility to defend us all from The Terrorists. But I didn’t hear why house arrest (which he admitted wasn’t needed at present) is the answer. Just saying “It’s necessary” over and over doesn’t make it any more true. He could have said “9pm curfews for all under-45s” or “CCTV in every home” and used exactly the same rhetoric that it would protect us.*

There are two questions I’d like Tony Blair to answer if he happens to log on today.

1. Given your argument, Tony, that the civil liberties that form our way of life must be limited in order to protect our way of life, which civil liberties do you consider too precious to ever consider restricting? Any at all?

2. Labour will, as usual, claim that anyone not supporting their proposals is helping the criminals/Terrorists/ne’er-do-wells. In order to safeguard this country’s national security, would you therefore recommend voting for a pro-house arrest Tory if they are standing against an anti-house arrest Labour MP?*

*I’m aware these are somewhat facetious. Apologies.

Really good weekend away in Leeds, running LibDem Youth & Students spring conference, which seemed to go well.

Speakers included Richard Allan MP, who talked on identity cards. Having sat on the committee scrutinising the ID cards bill, Richard is particularly well informed on this issue and detailed numerous reasons why they are a terrible – and potentially problematic – waste of money. He even drew on Little Britain, suggesting that the fallibility of the biometric identity systems could, in the future, result in trying to access health services only to be told, “Computer says no.” Richard proved once again that he’ll leave a significant gap (and more than just geek-shaped hole) in the parliamentary party when he stands down at the election.

Other speakers included Andrew Stunnell MP (the party’s chief whip in the Commons), Richard Stanforth of Oxfam talking about Make Poverty History (which LDYS is backing), and PPC’s Jon Neal and Greg Mulholland. There were loads of new faces and we had key training to prepare everyone for the general election.

I used to be an elected sabbatical officer at Leeds University Union so it was also good to be back there holding a conference in a section of the union whose renovation I approved before leaving three years ago.

Star Trek fans are fighting to save Enterprise.

They haven’t realised that saving Enterprise isn’t the same as saving Star Trek. Indeed, having watched Enterprise, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was itself Star Trek‘s slow and painful death.

Save Star Trek. Put Enterprise out of my its misery.

(Also via Nick.)

FaxYourMP has been superseded by WriteToThem.com (currently in beta test). Enter your postcode and it will bring up all your elected representatives from district council level up to the European Parliament (although not parish councillors). You can then contact choose a representative and contact them for free.

(Via Nick Barlow.)