Clause 1 — Encouragement of Terrorism

Part of Orders of the Day — Terrorism Bill – in the House of Commons at 2:00 pm on 15 February 2006.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Keith Vaz Keith Vaz Labour, Leicester East 2:00, 15 February 2006

The hon. Gentleman's last point is right. Of course it is important in a democracy that we should maintain the rule of law. It is also right that, when community groups and minority groups are likely to be affected by legislation, those groups should be reassured that the legislation is being directed not against them but against the tiny minority of people who seek to subvert democracy by blowing people up as they did on 7 July last year. That is the balance that the Home Secretary has to strike. He needs not only to welcome those groups into his office for discussions, but to send out a clear message to them that they are on our side and we are on their side in dealing with those elements who seek to subvert our democracy.