Open debate.

It worked for George Bush, and perhaps it will work for Tony Blair.

Britain is gearing up for a General Election dominated by the themes of security and terrorism, as Labour puts protecting the public at the heart of its legislative programme.

The measures announced yesterday are officially an outline of what the Government plans to do in the next 12 months.

But very few or none of the Bills included in the Queen's Speech will have become law by May next year, when a poll appears likely.

The wide-ranging programme includes a series of policies designed to improve our schools and hospitals, protect scientists and breeders targeted by animal rights extremists and allow the Government to improve the rail network.

But the emphasis on security has been encouraged by Ministers themselves, who have highlighted the range of measures designed to combat terrorism.

ID cards are as much to do with preventing people using the National Health Service when they are not entitled as they are a means of identifying terrorist suspects.

They were floated as in idea, under the guise of entitlement cards, long before the September 11 attacks in the US.

Nonetheless, the Government's critics risk going overboard in their claims that Ministers are deliberately fostering a climate of fear.

The fact that Britain has so far not suffered a terrorist attack, and cynicism among some voters following the divisive decision to invade Iraq, has led to an unfounded belief that the threat from terrorism has been exaggerated.

But bombings in Spain, Indonesia and Turkey, as well as the attacks on the US, demonstrate how serious the threat is.

If the danger is real, however, so is the importance of free and open debate about how to defeat it.

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Title Annotation:	Comment
Publication:	The Birmingham Post (England)
Date:	Nov 24, 2004
Words:	291
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