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Cambridge MP Julian Huppert has stepped in an rightly condemned Theresa May’s Communication Capabilities Programme, otherwise known as the ‘Snoopers Charter’, and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said it will not progress.
Better late than never.
“Their report makes a number of serious criticisms – not least on scope; proportionality; cost; checks and balances; and the need for much wider consultation.
“It is for those reasons that I believe the Coalition Government needs to have a fundamental rethink about this legislation.
DPM Nick Clegg
Huppert and Clegg are absolutely spot on in consigning the legislation in its current state to the scrap heap, which goes far beyond what is necessary for security, nevermind what liberals should feel comfortable with. With Liberal Democrats in Government, the securocrat proposals should never have gone as far as they did. On issues like this, which unite Lib Dem members across the spectrum, Lib Dem Ministers and advisers simply need to put their foot down, and early, instead of having to be hauled back from the brink by internal revolt.
Clegg, Huppert and co. must now turn their attention to killing off proposals for secrets courts.
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