Blair steps up surveillance society

9.00.00am GMT Wed 17th Jan 2007

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has today responded to news that Tony Blair plans to relax rules to allow Government departments to share private data.

The announcement comes ahead of the formation of Mr. Blair's citizen panels to be set up to examine such changes.

Mr. Howarth commented:

"Tony Blair is pushing ahead with his surveillance society agenda without even waiting for his own citizens' panels to be set up. The Government has not proved itself to be capable of looking after its own information and so how can we be certain that our personal information will be looked after?

David Howarth MP

"There is even more to come from Gordon Brown when Tony Blair eventually gives up Number 10. It has already been revealed that Mr. Brown has been looking into sharing personal data with private companies. We need to put a stop to this continued assault on our privacy."