Clegg ups the volume on civil liberties
Can the government's email surveillance woes be cured?
By Samira Shackle Published 04 April 2012 8:55
It might have taken a few days longer than most Liberal Democrats would have liked, but Nick Clegg has finally upped the volume on civil liberties. Not only has he successfully demanded a U-turn on Ken Clarke's proposals for a vast expansion of secret trials (£), but he has ramped up the rhetoric on plans to track the public's phone calls and emails.
On Monday, he offered a rather half-hearted defence of government plans to track the public’s phone calls and emails, saying that the proposals were only “updating existing laws”. Now, Clegg has spoken out in much stronger terms, telling the Guardian:
I saw the appalling populist excesses of authoritarian home secretaries, like John Reid, under Labour. This total casual disregard for people who care about privacy and civil liberties – I am not going to allow this government to make the same mistake.
The bill will no longer appear in the Queen’s Speech; it will be delayed and go through an open parliamentary consultation process which will examine draft clauses.
But does this mean that Clegg will oppose the proposal altogether? Well, no. He retains the same position: that security services need to be able to access communications data – so details of when , where and by whom an email or call is made – if not the content, which would still require a warrant. Reiterating that the Sunday Times story that kicked off the row was “wildly hyperbolic”, he said:
There is a gap opening up in the application of existing statutory powers for the police because of the increasing volume of email and telephone traffic that is now directed via voice over internet protocol means … I am keen to lower the temperature by reassuring people that we are not doing what we are accused of wanting to do, which is to create new databases and create new powers of surveillance over the contents of people's emails.
What this comes down to is a problem with communication. Liberal Democrats and Tories alike are said to be frustrated that May did not manage the fall-out by giving a proper, detailed response to the negative coverage. It is just the latest example of the government digging a hole by failing to explain the ins and outs of a policy.
Despite emphasising his role in restraining the security services – who “will always say they need new powers tomorrow”, Clegg essentially retains his support for the proposal:
We are saying we will only think of legislating if you can prove to us that it really is necessary. And I am persuaded there is a dilemma. There just is an issue.
The Information Commissioner Christopher Graham does not agree. He has said: "The case for the retention of this data still needs to be made. The value of historic communications data in criminal investigations has not yet been elucidated." Clegg’s party, who are up in arms about this assault on civil liberties, may be temporarily allayed by a proper consultative process for the bill. But unless the arguments for why this bill is necessary are convincingly made, it will be difficult to get them – and the public – on side.
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ass function and enforce policies that are for the most part related to EU directives - we n
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The process of gradualism has served these people well over the years. It has enabled them to push through their hidden agenda largely unchecked, until now. The apparent dithering on this matter is deliberate as it serves to diffuse the public outrage, rightly expressed. There is no need at all – despite any suggestions otherwise – for the state to take such a keen interest in the associations and dealings of the people, unless, of course, it seeks to exert its will over them. Make no mistake, there is an agenda here; an agenda which goes way beyond the realm of faux UK domestic politics. There can only be a certain number of false flag operations, a certain amount of psychological manipulation, of defying the will of the people; and we have reached that point. The game is up; it’s only a matter of time now. Expect a certain level of desperation in the actions of these people before there is freedom again of the individual ‘against the authority of the despot’, because you can’t kill an idea – right?
The reason they won't drop this? It's because they don't have the nerve to publically oppose Obama on doing away with civil liberites to "protect us from terrorism". If they did that, they would have to also admit that the States are using terrorist tactics to "fight" terrorism. Then, he'd have to say Noam Chomsky's name in public and then the entire bloody world would collapse. You get the idea.
All that matters is power. Not doing the right thing.
If Clegg seriously gave a rat's ass about civil liberties, he could stop the Tories dead in their tracks tomorrow by withdrawing his support from the coalition, and switching his support to Labour. But I, for one, don't believe Clegg gives a rat's ass for anyone or anything except his own MP's salary, which he'll cling to as long as he can, country be damned.
This days it would seem that even Nick doesn't agree with Nick!
What the hell is going on?
Focus your attention toward the EU and you may find the answer you're looking for. Our political class function and enforce policies that are for the most part related to EU directives - we no longer govern ourselves. Our political class take their orders from a highly centralised Brussels and when these EU directives prove unpopular with the public our eu-phile political class come accross as out of touch and directionless .
I have no idea where Nick Clegg stands on this now. Monday he opposed it, Tuesday he came out in support and by Wednesday he is half and half.
What the hell is going on? However I love the notion that he has attacked the former Labour Government, when his government have proposed the exact same plans under a different name and explanation.
Why have the Lib Dems not ditched him yet? Seriously?