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'Snoopers’ charter': Critics round on Theresa May’s ‘draconian’ proposals Tory Party Conference: 'Snoopers’ charter' - critics round on Theresa May’s ‘draconian’ proposals
(about 2 hours later)
Plans by Theresa May to give police and the security services a battery of new anti-terrorism powers including “gagging orders” and a “snoopers’ charter” ran into heavy criticism on Tuesday night from senior Conservatives and civil liberties groups.Plans by Theresa May to give police and the security services a battery of new anti-terrorism powers including “gagging orders” and a “snoopers’ charter” ran into heavy criticism on Tuesday night from senior Conservatives and civil liberties groups.
The Home Secretary spelt out the proposals in a sombre speech to the Tory conference that focused almost entirely on the terrorist threat at home and abroad. She even raised the prospect of Islamic State militants seizing nuclear weapons that could be turned on Western targets.The Home Secretary spelt out the proposals in a sombre speech to the Tory conference that focused almost entirely on the terrorist threat at home and abroad. She even raised the prospect of Islamic State militants seizing nuclear weapons that could be turned on Western targets.
Ms May insisted that Britain could not “flinch” from confronting the dangers and committed a future Conservative government to bringing in fresh anti-terror legislation.Ms May insisted that Britain could not “flinch” from confronting the dangers and committed a future Conservative government to bringing in fresh anti-terror legislation.
She promised a ban on extremists being interviewed on television, speaking at public meetings or using the internet, as well as an extension of ministers’ authority to outlaw groups suspected of encouraging terrorism or violence.She promised a ban on extremists being interviewed on television, speaking at public meetings or using the internet, as well as an extension of ministers’ authority to outlaw groups suspected of encouraging terrorism or violence.
The Home Secretary also announced the Tories would try to revive the Communications Data Bill, which would require companies to maintain records of people’s internet, email and mobile phone activity, but not their contents. The controversial measure ran into strong Liberal Democrat resistance and was abandoned last year.The Home Secretary also announced the Tories would try to revive the Communications Data Bill, which would require companies to maintain records of people’s internet, email and mobile phone activity, but not their contents. The controversial measure ran into strong Liberal Democrat resistance and was abandoned last year.
Conservative critics said “gagging orders” could amount to an attack on freedom of speech, no matter how unpalatable the opinions.Conservative critics said “gagging orders” could amount to an attack on freedom of speech, no matter how unpalatable the opinions.
Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General, said: “Any restriction on freedom of expression of individuals outside the criminal law is something that has to be approached with very great caution.”Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General, said: “Any restriction on freedom of expression of individuals outside the criminal law is something that has to be approached with very great caution.”
He warned that “measures which may be perceived as draconian, restricting other people’s liberties”, could be counterproductive and “simply fuel resentment”.He warned that “measures which may be perceived as draconian, restricting other people’s liberties”, could be counterproductive and “simply fuel resentment”.
The former shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said: “These are quite incredible powers to limit democratic rights, rights that people have had for 200 years in this country. It will have real trouble both getting through the House of Commons and indeed real difficulty standing up in front of the court.”The former shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said: “These are quite incredible powers to limit democratic rights, rights that people have had for 200 years in this country. It will have real trouble both getting through the House of Commons and indeed real difficulty standing up in front of the court.”
Ms May signalled her determination to reintroduce the Communications Data Bill as she warned of a “rapid and dangerous” decline in detectives’ ability to access online communications. She said police had been forced to abandon 20 investigations, including 13 in which children were in danger, as a result.Ms May signalled her determination to reintroduce the Communications Data Bill as she warned of a “rapid and dangerous” decline in detectives’ ability to access online communications. She said police had been forced to abandon 20 investigations, including 13 in which children were in danger, as a result.
She also denounced her Liberal Democrat Coalition partners for torpedoing the measure last year, saying: “This is outrageously irresponsible because innocent people are in danger right now. If we do not act, we risk sleepwalking into a society in which crime can no longer be investigated and terrorists can plot their murderous schemes undisrupted.”She also denounced her Liberal Democrat Coalition partners for torpedoing the measure last year, saying: “This is outrageously irresponsible because innocent people are in danger right now. If we do not act, we risk sleepwalking into a society in which crime can no longer be investigated and terrorists can plot their murderous schemes undisrupted.”
A Liberal Democrat spokesman accused Ms May of “peddling misinformation in a vain attempt to get the so-called snooper’s charter back on the table” and condemned the “Tories’ obsessive intrusion into people’s lives”.A Liberal Democrat spokesman accused Ms May of “peddling misinformation in a vain attempt to get the so-called snooper’s charter back on the table” and condemned the “Tories’ obsessive intrusion into people’s lives”.
Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: “The Home Secretary gave a good sermon about human rights and the rule of law in the Middle East while mocking the Court of Human Rights and proposing to ban non-violent speech and organisations. How do you promote liberal democratic values by promising state powers worthy of a caliphate?”Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: “The Home Secretary gave a good sermon about human rights and the rule of law in the Middle East while mocking the Court of Human Rights and proposing to ban non-violent speech and organisations. How do you promote liberal democratic values by promising state powers worthy of a caliphate?”
However, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, said some of the measures were not tough enough and called for powers to relocate terror suspects.However, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, said some of the measures were not tough enough and called for powers to relocate terror suspects.