The government is set to rewrite a controversial bill which would give police and security services powers to monitor personal communications, officials said Tuesday, after Nick Clegg threatened to block it.
The deputy prime minister has said the plans, branded by some critics as a “snooper’s charter”, needed a “fundamental rethink” and urged the Home Office to go “back to the drawing board”.
A committee of lawmakers set up to scrutinise the £1.8 billion reform plans has also described them as “overkill”.
The Communications Bill would allow a range of bodies, including the police, security services and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), to monitor emails, web phone calls and social networking, keeping data on file for up to a year.
The Home Secretary would also have the power to extend that access to other bodies.
Clegg made it clear he would block its passage through parliament in its current form.
“I believe the coalition government needs to have a fundamental rethink about this legislation,” said the Liberal Democrat leader.
“We cannot proceed with this bill and we have to go back to the drawing board. We need to reflect properly on the criticisms that the committee have made, while also consulting much more widely with business and other interested groups.”
Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesman acknowledged that it was “a controversial subject” and said the draft legislation would be reviewed.
“The committee has come back with a series of issues and, as the Home Office has been making clear, we accept the substance of the committee’s criticisms and we will look at how we can redraft the legislation to take account of those,” he told a Westminster press briefing.
Earlier Home Secretary Theresa May said she was determined to press ahead with the Bill but pledged to take into account the committee’s recommendations.
In an article published in The Sun May said the law was necessary in light of technological advances, which she said were being exploited by terrorists and paedophiles.
“You and your loved ones have the right to expect the government to protect you from harm,” she said.
“I will not allow these vitally important laws to be delayed any longer in this Parliament. This law is needed and it is needed now. And I am determined to see it through.”
Govt to rewrite data monitoring bill
