Clause 1 — Encouragement of Terrorism
Orders of the Day — Terrorism Bill — [1st Allotted Day]
1:30 pm
Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway, Labour)
The extraterrestrial aspect had not occurred to me. With great respect, I have a wide-ranging view of this legislation, but it stops somewhere around the Olympian height. In any event, I am enormously grateful, as always, for the hon. Gentleman's support on the broad aspects of the debate. As to the general enforceability of the provision, we all know, as the Home Secretary says in his inimitable way, that it will not be enforced—that is what he means. We cannot pass legislation like that. He has a charming way of dealing in public debate with those who point out to him that such an activity will be criminalised under the Act—he says, "No, it won't." That is it—he makes an ex cathedra statement, says that we are wrong, and passes on to the next prosecution.