ImageIf a politician offers you a definition of a term during a discussion, you can be sure that they want to steer you away from another meaning of the word that they're scared of.

Thus Jacqui Smith on Stalinism.

In my book, Stalinism and a police state happens when ministers direct and interfere with specific investigations that the police are carrying out.

No, minister. True, Stalin signed off lots of death lists personally, but his State apparatus knew their role and didn't need his personal directions for every person they oppressed. They knew their job.

And look at the police here.

The police here used the same obscure piece of common law against Sally Murrer. Coincidence? How many more investigations are taking place on the basis of this dubious offence? I think we should be told, but I'm sure we won't be.

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