Caroline is calling for the protection of MPs communications to be enshrined in law.

Last Week Caroline blew open the debate about the Wilson Doctrine with a court case against the Government. Later today she will speak in a House of Commons debate on the issue.

Ahead of the debate Caroline is calling for the Government to ‘come clean’ about their knowledge of the status of the Wilson Doctrine. 

Caroline said:

“Recent statements by ministers suggested that the Wilson Doctrine was in force – yet last week’s ruling indicates that this crucial protection has been shredded. MPs were repeatedly told that blanket surveillance wasn’t permitted because of the Wilson Doctrine – yet it is in fact taking place and constitutes a grave breach of our constituents’ privacy. The Government must now come clean about what they knew about the status of the Wilson Doctrine.

“Members of the public should be able to expect representation without their privacy being compromised. Indeed blanket surveillance of politicians is nothing short of a stain on our parliamentary democracy - it must be stopped.

“It is crucial that upcoming legislation on surveillance includes a provision to protect the communications of MPs, Peers, MSPs, AMs and MEPS from extra-judicial spying. For the sake of constituents – and to protect whistle-blowers who need to contact parliamentarians – the protection of national politicians’ communications must now be enshrined in law. ”

Caroline is not demanding that politicians’ communications should be entirely free from monitoring. In some cases, if they are accused of criminal activity for example, they should indeed be investigated. Instead she’s demanding proper judicial oversight which would ensure judges sign off any surveillance that takes place.

ENDS

Contact: Matthew Butcher on 07885 459 904 or clucasmedia@parliament.uk