Clegg calls for rolling back of surveillance state as bugging inquiry is launched

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Feb 2008

you are creating a surveillance state - Clegg tells Brown

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has called for a rolling back of the surveillance state, following revelations about the bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan. Justice Secretary Jack Straw has announced that Sir Christopher Rose, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner will undertake a two week inquiry. A police officer has claimed he was forced by the Metropolitan Police to carry out the bugging of Mr Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmed, who was being on terror charges in Woodhill Prison.

Nick Clegg said "This incident is the inevitable result of the Government's continual erosion of individual liberty. Many of those MPs who have protested about the bugging of Mr Khan are the ones who supported the Government's ID card scheme and the retention of the DNA of people who have never been charged with any crime. By stealth, this Government has given the state unprecedented snooping powers that affect each and every one of us. It is time that these powers were rolled back."