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The "perception" problem is compounded by the word perception and its associated adjective, perceptive, being used in two opposite senses. Perceptive used to refer to clear-sightedness, as in "She is very perceptive". It meant discerning, insightful, observant.

Now it is used in the sense: "people believe this thing firmly even if there is no real evidence for it but we had better humour them because they really, truly believe it". In what sense is Mr Grieve using it? It is a pity even prominent lawyers cannot use language clearly.

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