Wilson Doctrine

EDM number 526 in 2015-16, proposed by Caroline Lucas on 14/10/2015.
Categorised under the topics of Members of Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, Parliament, Privacy, Telecommunications, Intelligence services, National Assembly for Wales and Scottish Parliament.

That this House notes the judgment of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) that the Wilson Doctrine is not legally enforceable and calls it a political statement in a political context, encompassing the ambiguity that is sometimes to be found in political statements; further notes that this runs contrary to assurances given to both hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords by successive Governments; expresses concern that the protections supposedly afforded by the Wilson Doctrine have never applied to Members of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly or to UK Members of the European Parliament; further expresses concern that the IPT's judgment raises numerous questions about the confidentiality of the communications undertaken by hon. Members while carrying out their parliamentary duties including with their constituents, whistle-blowers, campaigners, journalists and one another; and therefore calls on the Government immediately to introduce legislation that requires independent judicial approval for any surveillance or interception of hon. Members' communications and make similar moves to extend that democratic safeguard to the devolved legislatures and to MEPs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.