Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

As my noble friend Lord Hylton has said, Clause 52 has probably occasioned more criticism than any other in the Bill. A number of organisations have written to me about it. I repeat that, as far as I can ascertain, the Government have not really said why the clause is needed. There appears to be legislation already on the statute book that could deal with terrorism. The clause gives the opportunity for an authoritarian government, should we have one in the future, to take action against individuals simply on the basis of the political views to which they give voice. I do not think that that was originally the intention, but the wording could certainly be interpreted in that way in the future. I hope that the Government will be disposed to look again at this, particularly in the light of the representations that I know have been made.