Newlands raises civil liberties concerns with the PM
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has accused the Prime Minister of performing a "complete U-turn”and sacrificing civil liberties at the expense of “ineffective, costly and intrusive” security powers.
Gavin Newlands MP, who sat on the Bill Committee for the Investigatory Powers Bill, said it has been considered one of the most intrusive pieces of legislation in the Western world, and proposes to overhaul the framework governing the use of surveillance by the intelligence and security agencies.
This Bill proposes to transfer over a range of powers to the security agencies, including the lawful interception of communications and retention of internet sites visited by individuals.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:
“When in opposition, David Cameron criticised the previous Labour government for operating a surveillance state, promising to rid us of these intrusive powers, but now as Prime Minister he is intending to introduce a series of far more intrusive powers that will impinge significantly on our civil liberties.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a law-abiding citizen, the Prime Minister is pushing ahead to introduce powers which will enable the state to lawfully hack your communications and retain a record of every website you visit.
“The powers that this Bill intends to introduce are not proportionate, necessary and experts are claiming that these powers are illegal.
“The Prime Minister has contradicted himself and his position when in opposition. In a matter of a few years the Prime Minister has transformed from being the self-proclaimed defender of civil liberties to championing ineffective powers that will serious impinge on our private lives.”
