Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Strong column by Henry Porter in today's Observer. He describes the absurd proposal to insist on 53 questions you have to answer before you can leave the UK. These were set out in Thursday's Daily Mail, reproduced here. Henry also slams the £1.2 billion deal the Home Office signed with Raytheon Systems, the US corporation that brought us the Cruise missile, to carry out the work - it will now have access to all our travel details, companions. Henry asks why have we allowed this to happen?
Part of the answer is that it has not been authoritatively reported. Or, in this case if you read the Guardian, not reported at all. OurKingdom has done its best and will do more. Another part of the answer is that protest has been too dispersed and specialised. Liberty on detention, No2ID on the database state, while Unlock Democracy protests about the House of Lords and calls for a citizens convention. Whatever, we have got to get our act together now.
Iain Dale picks up the same story via Peter Hitchens
