UK Parliament / Open data

Investigatory Powers Bill

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Harman (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 6 June 2016. It occurred during Debate on bills on Investigatory Powers Bill.

Because the Prime Minister is the Executive, and we need the separation of powers and the balance of powers. I disagreed with the hon. Member for Gainsborough when he was talking about what a great guy the Prime Minister is, so it is not a problem with him, but it might be with the next one. I am on my fifth Prime Minister now and they all have something in common: they regard being held to account as a bit of a nuisance. They do not welcome scrutiny—it is just the nature of the beast. We have to take that into account and accept the fact that, for the rule of law, we have to protect lawyers; for freedom of speech and expression, we have to protect journalism; and for holding the Executive to account, we must protect our rights in this House.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
611 c972 
Session
2016-17
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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