Life, the universe and everything

The answer to which is, famously, 42. Coincidentally, its also the amount of time that the government thinks the police might need to hold someone without charge in the future, maybe. I don't really have particularly strong feelings on whether 42 days is the right number - let's be honest, everyone is making it up a bit - but this does seem to be one of those issues where everyone comes out of it looking like an idiot.

1. The government doesn't seem to know what it's for: If we need 42 days, let's have it, but not in the future, maybe, or maybe not. If we need to hold people, fine, but then let's not pay them. etc. Absurd.

2. The DUP as unlikely (and unconvincing) powerbrokers: One of my friends felt this was all rather reminiscent of the UUP propping up the Major government in the 90s, but this is slightly more bizarre. Apparently their support was "in the best interests of protecting the safety and security of the United Kingdom." Somehow, I'm not sure their approach chimes with mine. Apparently, it's all for economic benefits, though, to that's all right

3. Rubbish reporting: Statistics: not until I spent all day in the car during the debate did it become apparent that only six people had been detained for 14-28 days (of which three released). A bit more scrutiny might be in order on that one.

4. Rubbish reporting II: (This is Anna's) Non-comparability: much is made of other country's not having such long periods for detention but it's not relevant. They have different rules for evidence. I'm married to a lawyer, so I get told this, but you'd look in vain to be told elsewhere.

5. Ordinary people, suddenly being sanctimonious about liberty: people don't actually care very much about liberty, especially not of the trivial kind we're talking about here. Articles like this by Major are over-egging the point. Let's do the proper homework before we start using words like ancient liberties. Most of the key points in our constitutional history were about money (Civil War, Magna Carta, though it's a bit more complicated than that) or God (Glorious revolution), not liberty, which while clearly a good thing is not really eroded very much by having a lot of CCTV cameras, some DNA records, and a fortnight's extension on detention without charge for a handful of people. See also, otherwise respectable people using the words police state in articles.

6. David Davis: he's a twat. There's no other explanation for it; and there's no need to be more sophisticated about it. Name calling is about the right level of debate for him, but the BBC's list will do though if you need one.

Of course, as we know, according to Douglas Adams, the Question was "what is six by nine?" That didn't make sense either.