Lib Dems vow to kill ‘snooper’ laws

Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron yesterday vowed the party would “kill” proposals for increased monitoring of emails and internet use if they were not watered down.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Mr Farron said he was “prepared” to look at draft legislation, dubbed a “snoopers charter”, when it is published but warned he was “in no mood” to back “authoritarian” laws.

Many Lib Dems were “horrified” by the plans, which would allow Government listening post GCHQ to monitor internet traffic – times, dates, numbers and addresses – in real time.

Mr Farron told BBC 1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I am prepared to recognise that there is obviously a need in modern society with new technology to have a look at what needs to be given to the security services but only if it is absolutely clear there is no universal access.

“But we are prepared to kill them, be absolutely clear about that, if it comes down to it.

“If we think this is a threat to a free and liberal society then there would be no question of unpicking them or compromising, this just simply must not happen.”