At last some ‘Balls’ from Ed! Good – these plans cannot be supported by anyone who believes in democracy.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has effectively killed the government’s plans for secret courts and secret trials by saying Labour would not back the proposal.

But what will Labour really do – in secret?

I hope we are going to have a list of those individual MPs who have miraculously changed their minds since they had the power to do something about this.

“The ball is now in Nick Clegg’s court.”

The response is classified.

(But yes, good, that’s one of several policies fixed by Labour before I can vote for them…)

Um, Clegg already said he would oppose the secret court plans. So it was Clegg who killed them not Miliband.

All Miliband has said is that he won’t help the tories to get secret courts implemented in the face of Lib Dem refusal to vote with the tories on this.

Could I also ask:

Is this the same kind of promise as the one Miliband made to vote against cutting the 50p tax rate? The reason I ask is because the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained when it came to that actual vote.

@4 – Said? And?

The signed pledge on University fees comes back to haunt you again. There’s ZERO reason to believe a word he says.

@4 – And…

https://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/04/03/watch-clegg-defends-snooping-plans

Explain thanks!

The reason I ask is because the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained when it came to that actual vote.

It really annoys me when Libdems actually swallow such crap spin. That vote was on a series of motions not only the 50p tax. They didn’t have the option just to vote on that specific measure – as Ed B pointed out. Given that Labour has repeatedly said they wouldn’t have cut 50p tax – its desperate to pretend they’re u-turning.

Um, Clegg already said he would oppose the secret court plans.

Can you offer some evidence that he said he would oppose such plans? Fair enough if he did but I haven’t seen it

See here Sunny http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/justice-secretary-says-secret-courts-could-save-lives-7618000.html

“Nick Clegg’s earlier comments that he could not support the Government’s proposals for more secret hearings in their current form”

@8

Sunny, Labour MPs abstained on the sections of the budget which contained the cut in the 50p rate of tax. If you pledge you’re going to vote a certain way on something then you should damn well vote the way you said you would (and that includes Lib Dem MPs and tuition fees).

However, they also chose to actively vote against the specific sections of the budget which included raising the income tax threshold to £9,100. So on the one hand it’s okay to abstain on cutting taxes for the rich on the grounds that its “part of a series of measures” but on the other hand it’s okay to also vote specifically against tax cuts to poorer, working class people despite it also being “part of a series of measures”?

And forgive me if I’m dismissive of Labour promises on the 50p tax rate. All they’ve said is that if they were writing the budget they wouldn’t have cut it – but they’ve refused time and time again to confirm that they’d restore the 50p tax rate if they win the next general election.

RE Clegg I refer you to @9.

@10 – Still lying about raising the tax threshold being for the poor?

And “current form”. Ah yes, like the NHS “listening exercise”. Good job on the demolition work there!

George: fair point about Clegg.

However, they also chose to actively vote against the specific sections of the budget which included raising the income tax threshold to £9,100.

As far as I’m aware – this is because the raising of the threshold is being financed by cutting tax credits – which will poorer harder than richest. Perfectly progressive thing to do, as you well know.

If Libdems are going to be part of a govt that helps middle income earners by hitting poorest instead of richest – don’t expect left to support that!

how many blairite backbernchers would back it though

Labour, the party of machiavellian attitudes to civil liberties, persecuting minorities and increasing the expedience with which people are passed through the courts, decide to not vote for secret court plans. I’ll call that a good start.

@14 – “persecuting minorities”

Ah, there goes that mirror thing again.

I suspect that the game afoot is thus: declare the current proposals are unacceptable, and later to claim concessions have been won, enabling our dear political class to pass whatever bill is finally presented.

We shouldn’t make it party political, Politicians from all the major parties are far too quick to acquiesce when the spooks or police claim they need more power.