Mark Oaten Quotations

We still want to try to seek consensus, however two sticking points have emerged for us.

We broadly welcome the use of powers to deport people, as long as the individuals involved have a right to appeal and the case for deportation is reasonable,

If Amnesty has concerns about torture then they will know better than a minister in Whitehall what is really going on, and we should listen to their concerns.

Keeping suspects in police detention for three months would be radically out of step with our European and Commonwealth partners. Where other countries hold suspects for long periods there are safeguards in the form of an independent judge who decides if there is a case to answer.

It is a disgrace that the Government should choose the day on which the Work and Pensions Secretary has resigned to conceal these findings.

It is good that the home secretary has seen sense on the deportation rules,

Real opposition and principled opposition is about making a stand on this key issue of holding suspects without charge.

I would like to apologize for errors of judgment in personal behavior and for the embarrassment caused, firstly to my family but also to my friends, my constituents and my party.

The quick powers Mr Blair is issuing for the police to give instant justice are not as effective as he is making out.

the government must not hand the terrorists a victory by taking away long held liberties and principles of justice.

What are the kind of words that somebody would use which could then be implied to be incitement? This will be hard legislation to draft.

As things stand, I don't think the case has been made for moving beyond the 14-day period we already have,

I hope the party will rally round Charles now he has made this statement. I think the public are enormously forgiving of their politicians and enormously fond of Charles.

If the prime minister had wanted to show real action he would have announced a suspension to the licensing legislation.

If the numbers of searches continue to increase at this rate it will create tensions in communities, and could turn the public against the police.