Boris Johnson considers it a “minor change in the law” that could be swiftly accomplished. There should be a “rebuttable presumption that all those visiting war areas without notifying the authorities have done so for a terrorist purpose.”
It sounds all very well but it is at precisely moments like these that ill-judged legislation is most likely to be passed.
Before looking at the principled objections to Mr Johnson’s idea, there are a large number of practical ones. It is easy to make sweeping “something must be done” suggestions. It is much harder to draft workable legislation. Unworkable legislation will simply compound the problem. Continue reading “Boris Johnson’s proposal to abolish the burden of proof is a dreadful idea that would create more terrorists”