Iain Dale is justifiably concerned about a remark he’s reporting, by UK Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair in a supposedly private meeting (the Brits have leakers too), suggesting that “a truly appalling act of terror” might lead the British government to consider “internment:” EXCLUSIVE: Sir Ian Blair Says New Terror Attack Could Lead to Internment. (Hat tip: Luigi.)

Last week, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner addressed the Reform Club Media Group. Nothing like the ‘establishment’ sticking together is there? The meeting was conducted under Chatham House rules, which mean that no one attending is supposed to divulge what is said. But one person present was so appalled at Sir Ian’s attitude and authoritarian stance that he has revealed to me an alarming - and seemingly off the cuff - remark made by Sir Ian at the event.

Sir Ian said the British people should ‘brace themselves for a truly appalling act of terror’. He said that following this act of barbarism ‘people would be talking quite openly about internment’, giving the impression that he would be leading the pro-internment lobby. No doubt he will find a willing supplicant in the tougher than tough Home Secretary John Reid.

My informant thought at first that it really was a throwaway remark but on reflection felt that it couldn’t have been made by accident. Well, either that or the Reform Club claret had loosened his tongue.

I haven’t even bothered to ring the Met Press Office because I know what they will say. But if this really is the stance Sir Ian is taking then we should be even more worried about our civil liberties than we already are. I’m now even more convinced that the Conservative stance against 90 days detention was right.

There are definitely civil liberties concerns in play; internment is very serious stuff, and we should all be concerned when it’s mentioned by government officials. But Sir Ian’s comment about the British public needing to brace themselves for “a truly appalling act of terror” suggests some terrible inside knowledge.