Pressure mounts on Blair over MPs phone tap row

THE British government is facing mounting pressure over proposals which could see a ban on tapping MPs’ telephones being ditched.

The cabinet has received a recommendation from Sir Swinton Thomas, the interception of communications commissioner, that the 40-year-old ban should be lifted and is currently considering the matter.

The Independent on Sunday reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to lift the prohibition but faces opposition from colleagues. It added that opposition from Defence Secretary John Reid sparked a fierce row in the cabinet. An announcement on the issue, which comes under an expansion of MI5 powers following the London bombings, could come within weeks, the newspaper claimed. However, Mr Reid ducked questions over the issue yesterday. He told ITV television: “I think that no one would take such a change lightly, and I know that neither the prime minister nor my cabinet colleagues would take such a change lightly, but the important thing is the idea does not originate with us, it is a recommendation of Sir Swinton Thomas.”

He added: “He has made a recommendation to Cabinet and Cabinet decided, quite correctly, that this was worthy of deep reflection and more consideration. So that is the position, it’s not something that’s been brought forward at the behest of the prime minister.

“Indeed, it’s the result of us having established a level of scrutiny over phone tapping which never existed and a recommendation from that commissioner that MPs should be treated the same as everyone else.”

Asked if he was worried about the possibility, Mr Reid said: “If you don’t mind, I’ll discuss that with my Cabinet colleagues and then we’ll make a collective decision.”