In 1938 Winston Churchill made a radio speech which was broadcast to America, describing what was happening as Nazi forces spread across Europe.
"The stations of uncensored expression are closing down; the lights are going out; but there is still time for those to whom freedom and parliamentary government mean something, to consult together."
Perhaps if he'd been around today and au fait with the Internet he might have used the same phrase to describe what is going on in legislatures across Europe.
Tonight the UK Labour governement, together with the Conservative arty, forced through the controversial Digital Economy Bill. The Bill now gets a 'third reading' in the House of Lords, which means it is almost certain to become law. The government did a deal with the Conservative leadership, which got a number of provisions it didn't like removed. In other words, it was, to use an old British phrase, a "stitch up."
