The Sketch: It's not about liberty - it's modernity

The Prime Minister relaxes into his End of Days. He sounds worn with care.

His hair marches up over his skull. His mind rambles. "The opportunities of restoring trust in public life... (PAUSE) are somewhat limited (LONG PAUSE)..." He seemed to be about to say something else. No, the pause continued and turned into a hiatus. Eventually the Liaison Committee moved on.

Later, on Muslims: "There is a point about integration... if we want to deal with it... we've got to deal with it... " Ye-e-ess? No? No, perhaps not. He's still got all his teeth, though, and occasionally he can be stung into life. Then he does say some very odd things.

"Before Asbos there was no ability to shut down crack houses." In what way could that be true? Was our entire inner-city narcotics strategy dependent on complaints from neighbours? Were no crack houses shut down before Asbos (c.1998)? He referred to the Proceeds of Crime Act: if police find you with £1,000 cash they can confiscate it and you have to go to court to prove you acquired it legally.

"There's no doubt that this is a reversal of the burden of proof," he said. I only mention this because when I pointed out the erosion of the presumption of innocence the Home Secretary called it a "ludicrous" assertion. The Curse of the Sketch fell on him. I tried to withdraw it but curses have a life of their own.

Then there was a glimpse of the PM's philosophy (always his weakest point): "This isn't an issue of liberty," he said, "but of modernity." That is the single most depressing statement he's ever made. We are not safe when our rulers think in these terms.

Mike Gapes mentioned that "Dr" John Reid had said illegal immigrants should be found, identified and deported. All of them. However many there are. Yes, Dr Demento has taken over the Home Office. Gapes gawped: "Is it realistic to find and deport hundreds of thousands of people?" Hundreds of thousands of people! It's yodelling insanity! The PM countered with the consequences of a government saying illegals would be allowed to stay. It seems we can't deport them, but equally we can't say we won't. Ah! It's "sending a signal".

It's PR.

On the subject of which: Patrick Cormack elicited some answers about the US Congressional Medal of Honour which he's accepted, but refused to be awarded. I suspect the ceremony has been marked as an occasion to launch his post-resignation tour of the States. That'll get it off to a good start, the television pictures and so forth. It'll get the bookings up. He does have a £3m mortgage to pay off, remember. There is a long night after the End of Days.

sketch@simoncarr.co.uk