Cameron warns SNP on snooping vote
THE Prime Minister will today warn Nicola Sturgeon that she will endanger lives if she allows SNP MPs to fight the “snoopers’ charter” which gives police and intelligence agencies more powers to monitor terrorists online.
Speaking before talks with the Scottish First Minister at Downing Street, David Cameron said he wanted crossparty support for the Investigatory Powers Bill.
Mr Cameron warned that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), poses a “very direct threat to our country and our way of life” and that terrorists cannot be given “safe spaces” in which to communicate on the internet. He said he wanted to ensure that the Government and the three devolved administrations are cooperating as effectively as possible to tackle terrorism.
But Ms Sturgeon refused to give any hint as to whether her party will support the legislation, merely stating that the meeting was an “important opportunity” for them to discuss how to work together more closely. She instead focused on the financial arrangements that will accompany the new tax powers being devolved to Holyrood.
The Investigatory Powers Bill would compel communications companies to help spies hack into suspects’ smartphones and computers. Internet and phone companies will also have to retain customer usage data for a year.
It would protect the ability of GCHQ and MI5 to bulk collect communications data and to hack into a suspect’s electronic devices. It would also enshrine the power of ministers to sign off warrants for intrusive surveillance.
SNP MPs, who voted against air strikes on Syria, have expressed scepticism about whether the powers are “proportionate” to the threat, but have promised to carefully consider them.
Mr Cameron said: “We know Daesh (Isil) pose a very direct threat to our country and our way of life. That threat applies across the UK and so it is essential that the UK Government and the governments of our devolved nations cooperate in the most effective way.
“We are looking at a number of issues, including the use of intelligence information, and we also need to ensure cooperation at a legislative level.”
He concluded: “We cannot afford to give terrorists safe spaces in which to communicate and we must give the police and security services the tools they need to keep us safe in the 21st century. I am hopeful that when we debate the Investigatory Powers Bill in the new year, we can achieve cross-party support for these fundamental concepts.”
He said Westminister and the Scottish Government were committed to getting a “good deal for Scotland” on the financial framework that will accompany Holyrood’s new powers but it must also be “fair to the rest of the UK”. The negotiations centre on the mechanism for calculating the change to Scotland’s block grant from Westminster to offset Holyrood getting control over income tax and an array of benefits.
Ms Sturgeon has previously warned she would rather veto the new powers than accept a deal that could potentially leave Scotland worse off in future.