London: When will political life return to normality?

With good cause, the Prime Minister and other party leaders urge us to lead our lives as normal in spite of the attacks on London. Yet virtually the only people failing to heed this resolute advice are the political leaders themselves. Since 7 July, there has been a suspension of normal party politics and an outbreak of consensus.

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack, a symbolic unity across the political spectrum is understandable and, on one level, wholly desirable. Political leaders have a duty to unite in sending out clear messages of condemnation. But beyond these broad affirmations, consensus becomes a tame substitute for rigorous debate and scrutiny. There is a stifling assumption that to break the unity would be conceding ground to the terrorists.

A brief survey of radio phone-ins, letters pages and newspaper columns suggests that opinions on the new "shoot-to-kill" policy range widely. But political leaders and most MPs are not inclined to ask many questions. They should do so. A change in policing strategy in which one innocent person has already been killed is a legitimate topic for debate.