From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hague in 'lynch mob' storm by Charles Reiss William Hague was today accused of promoting a "lynch mob mentality" as a fierce row broke out over his call to ease the law on self-defence against burglars. The Opposition leader promised that the next Conservative government would change the law to put the state "on the side of people who protect their homes and their families against criminals". His pledge drew a deluge of criticism amid accusations that he was using the case of Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, convicted of murdering an intruder, to make political capital ahead of next month's local elections. Peter Bradley, head of the countryside group of Labour MPs, accused Mr Hague of "political opportunism". He pointed out that the law already allowed householders to use "reasonable force" against intruders and he went on: "I'm not quite sure what reform William Hague is promoting unless it is a move to a gun law that we are very familiar with in the USA - and we are glad we don't have that kind of lynch mob mentality." Some senior legal figures joined the attack, with former High Court judge Sir Michael Davies demanding: "What does Mr Hague suggest? Are people going to be encouraged to have guns, to have an electric fence with killing power round their back garden, to have a pair of man-eating tigers tied up to be released if there's a burglar about?" Others, such as the former Law Lord Lord Ackner, said that there was a case for changing the law, at least to return to judges their freedom to decide the sentence for murder rather than the current mandatory life term. Senior Tories believe the concern roused by the Tony Martin case has given them a chance to put the Government on the back foot again following the recent controversy over asylum seekers. There are growing hopes in the Hague camp that the Tories will make substantial gains in the contest for more than 3,000 local council seats across England on 4 May. Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes joined the voices warning that the Conservatives were heading down a dangerous road but he also accused the Tory leader of raising expectations of action without any firm proposals, saying: "It's another vague Hague speech as with asylum seekers". Mr Hague, in his speech in Warwickshire, said that politicians were not doing their job if they did not listen and respond to the "unprecedented public outcry which has greeted the murder conviction for this Norfolk farmer who was defending his home against burglars." He reaffirmed that a Tory government would increase police numbers and bring in "honesty in sentencing" so that criminals served the full jail terms handed down in court. Beyond that, he promised: "We are going to re-balance the justice system, to protect people who defend their families, their homes and their property against criminals." -- I'd point out to Mike Davies that it was the European Court of Human Rights that gave a decision that the law in the UK was so vague it violated the charter and should be changed. Steve. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
