The Open Society and its Enemies

Tony Blair, whose word is his bond, has assured his fellow Members of Parliament that their telephones will not be tapped by MI5, MI6, GCHQ or the police. Tony was apparently advised by the Right Honourable Sir Swinton Thomas, Interception of Communications Commissioner, that the "Wilson doctrine" of not bugging the phones of Westminster club members should be scrapped. As so often these days, the new and unique terrorist threat has changed the rules of the game, while "recent laws introducing a system of safeguards" have made the doctrine redundant. At the moment, Britain's various political police forces have to apply to ministers for a warrant before intercepting private communications; the safeguards referred to are no doubt the ones which prevent ministers refusing such warrants except in circumstances where it is absolutely expedient to do so. Principled as ever, Tony has rejected the Right Honourable Sir Swinton Thomas' advice, on the grounds that officially disowning the Wilson doctrine would provoke "an unnecessary row".