Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Immigration Minister and lead on the draft Investigatory Powers Bill, commenting on the report from the Intelligence and Security Committee, said:

“Labour has consistently argued that the extension of surveillance powers can only be justified if accompanied by much improved transparency and ever-more robust oversight and scrutiny.

"The ISC report, while accepting the case for a new legal framework, contains powerful criticisms of the Tory Government’s draft Bill. These include that privacy is not adequately protected and that the provisions on communications data are overly broad.

"Labour will work constructively with the Government to get this Bill right because it matters to our security, privacy and democracy. It is clear though – as the ISC report emphasises – that this will take time and that such an important Bill should not be rushed through Parliament without proper scrutiny. The Government now need to address these concerns and come back with a significantly improved Bill.”