I don't actually subscribe to the view that all power corrupts. But absolute power - when secured on the back of massive parliamentary majorities, which don't reflect the balance of political opinion in the country - can corrupt absolutely.
This country has a proud history of opening its doors to generations of people fleeing personal persecution, civil unrest and war.
There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.
There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.
In my view, as a country we need to rediscover some of that skepticism about government and revisit that libertarian agenda.
I believe that our country is a richer, more vibrant society precisely because it is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic society.
I believe when the country feels threatened it is important that we are seen to be working together to find an appropriate structure for dealing with terrorists in our midst.