Fine example of keeping government in check

It’s not often I feel moved to praise our MPs but good on you, David Davis and Tom Watson.

They have won a High Court battle over a law which they say allows the police and security services to "spy on citizens" without proper safeguards.

The government said it "disagreed absolutely" with the court's ruling and would seek to appeal. No surprise there, then.

But Davis, a former Conservative minister and Watson, a civil liberties campaigner who is standing to be Labour's deputy leader, backed by campaign group Liberty, argued the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act was “incompatible with human rights”.

The Act was fast-tracked through Parliament last July, allowing security agencies to gather phone and internet data if they ask for permission…..from themselves.

Bonkers, I know. You really couldn’t make it up.

Two High Court judges today found that the act is "inconsistent with EU law" and the ruling effectively nullifies aspects of the legislation, although that order has been suspended until next March.

Now I have no problem with MFI, or whatever our security services are now known as, seeking approval to check emails, texts and phone calls if they have reason (and it must be a very good reason) to believe our national security is at risk.

But that approval MUST come from an independent person or body.

Democracy is a great thing but only with checks and balances.

BT UPDATE NO. 48d

My reader will recall that my letter of complaint to BT about the shabby way they treated my bereaved mother-in-law was sent by recorded delivery on June 25.

Having still had no acknowledgement by Tuesday this week (July 14), I decided to go to the top.

An email to BT’s Chief Executive elicited a response within hours – and settlement by today (Friday, July 17).

OK, it was disappointing that they asked me to email my letter (or book as I prefer to call it) again but hey ho, no-one’s perfect.

The successful conclusion included the utterance of that seemingly awfully difficult word – sorry – a refund of the installation cost of moving the line (I won’t bore you with the technical details they tried to regale me with) and six months free BT phone service.

It was tempting to hold out for a better deal but at the end of the day it was closure that was really wanted – and someone to acknowledge their inefficiency and ineptitude.

So thank you, Sam at BT, for having the dangly bits to do so during our phone calls today.