Following comments earlier in the week, Barcode Nation asked just who, other than Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith, is speaking out in support of the government?

Well today, we found out, after reading Jack Straw’s comments in the Guardian.

Not only does he take a swipe at tomorrow’s Convention on Modern Liberty:

More generally, despite the claims of a systematic erosion of liberty by those organising this weekend’s Convention on Modern Liberty, my very good constituency office files show no recent correspondence relating to fears about the creation in Britain of a “police state” or a “surveillance society”.

But not only that, he goes on to claim that this Labour government:

“has done more to reinforce and strengthen liberty than any since the war.”

The sheer cheek of this claim is almost beyond belief! One of the comments sums up my feelings perfectly:

• An end to peaceful protest within a mile of Parliament.
• ID cards.
• Over 60 pieces of personal information before you can travel.
• Internet monitoring.
• Phone call monitoring.
• The politicization of the police.
• One-quarter of all the CCTV in the world.
• Racist ID cards for non-EU nationals.

And you have the bare-faced cheek to say that you have extended liberties? You are a liar, Jack, and not a very good one. We want our freedom, and our country, back.