Already? It is clear that a failure of the government to listen to genuine worries about its ability to use its authority to skew the EU referendum campaign caused a pretty handsome defeat in the Commons last night. Things are not going well for this new Tory government. It is much less sure footed than its Coalition predecessor. Out of step with public opinion over the migrant crisis, defeated over the so called purdah issue, very poor figures from manufacturing, immigration numbers in orbit by comparison with repeated promises to reduce the flow, China’s economy slowing.
Then comes news of the drone strike. Apparently legal advice sanctioned it, but we were told the same thing over the Iraq war. If it is indeed the case that a terrorist attack was being planned and directed by the target, then maybe we should all feel grateful that the PM had the courage to act.
Yet there is disquiet. This blog had no idea our citizens could be killed on the orders of the Prime Minister. I thought we did not do that sort of thing. Does there not have to be a trial? Proof of a crime? He can hardly have been about to commit a terrorist act in the UK if he was in Syria at the time he was killed. We are not at war with Syria. Was it enough that Islamic State believes itself at war with us? Parliament must have a say in this. The UN Charter is one thing but our laws and customs are something else and they cannot be cast aside under the Royal Prerogative without very good reason. We need to agree what those reasons are. Bumping people off, fellow citizens to boot, is not Britain’s style. Imagine the shrieks from Downing Street and the Foreign Office if one of Putin’s drones did exactly the same thing.