Labour writes to Theresa May asking her to reconsider the Investigatory Powers draft Bill, take into account the conclusions and recommendations in the three detailed reports, and return to Parliament with a significantly revised and improved Bill.

Writing to Theresa May today, Andy Burnham, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary and Keir Starmer, Labour’s Shadow Home Office Minister, said: 

Dear Theresa

Re. Draft Investigatory Powers Bill

As you know, we support the Government’s aim of delivering an up-to-date and comprehensive legal framework to enable the Police and security services to have the powers they need in the digital age to prevent and investigate serious crime and we will continue to work constructively with you to that end.

However, as we have made clear, any such powers must be transparent, necessary and proportionate; they must be accompanied by strong safeguards; and independent scrutiny of the use of those powers must be built in.

Today we have received the report on the Bill from the Joint Committee in addition to earlier reports from the Intelligence and Scrutiny Committee (ISC) and the Science and Technology Committee.  All three reports make significant and consistent criticisms of the Investigatory Powers Bill, as currently drafted.

They highlight serious concerns that: privacy is not adequately protected in the draft Bill; the provisions on equipment interference, bulk personal datasets and communications data are overly broad; and the Government has yet adequately to define what an Internet Connection Record is.

These are substantial concerns and they cannot be dismissed.

We continue to share the Government’s aspiration of creating world-class legislation in this complex area which can set an international template.  But, as these reports conclude, we are still a considerable way from achieving that.  

It is our view that the Government must now take time to reconsider the draft Bill, taking into account the conclusions and recommendations in the three detailed reports, and return to Parliament with a significantly revised and improved Bill.

It is essential that sufficient Parliamentary time is then set aside to enable full scrutiny, given the importance of these issues to national security and privacy.

Labour remains committed to working constructively with the Government to ensure that any final Bill strikes the right balance for our security and privacy. To that end, we would like to meet you at the earliest opportunity to ensure that these concerns can be addressed. 

Yours sincerely                                     

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP                                                           Keir Starmer MP

Shadow Home Secretary                                                  Shadow Home Office Minister