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Another Labour rebellion brewing over the covert human intelligence sources (criminal conduct) bill, which has its second reading today. Expecting a response from Labour left MPs like the one we saw at the second reading of the overseas operations bill two weeks ago.
Critics say it places no specific limits on the type of criminal activity allowed, authorisations are given internally & it limits redress for victims. "There is a grave danger that this bill could end up providing informers and agents with a licence to kill," Amnesty has said.
Here's the view of the Labour frontbench – "Such activity – the licence to commit a crime to prevent something far more serious occurring - has been happening for many years, but it has not been properly legislated for. This cannot be right": https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/police-terror-attacks-mi5-intelligence-labour-keir-starmer-b757785.html
Nick Thomas-Symonds says Labour will allow the bill to progress to committee stage but will later press the government for "robust safeguards" in the form of "very clear limits and oversight". Also says it should not retrospectively apply to the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Labour MPs are on a one-line whip to abstain, but those planning to rebel are talking about Pat Finucane's killing, spycops relationships, the surveillance of colleagues such as Jeremy Corbyn and interference in legitimate trade union activities. Unite has sent out a briefing.
