tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post7400426118596086421..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Tom Watson's Internet PledgeIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22217374836285630122010-04-12T01:04:28.884+01:002010-04-12T01:04:28.884+01:00Watson wasn't just one of the few Labour MPs t...Watson wasn't just one of the few Labour MPs to vote against the bill, he was one of the few MPs of <b>either</b> major party to vote against it. The Conservatives whole-heartedly supported the more draconian elements of a bill dreamt up by the media industry. Their performance was shameful to put it mildly with Ed Vaizey looking only just stupid than Steven Timms as the chamber debated issues that its clear almost no one understood.<br /><br />The Tories backed legislation that allows people to be disconnected on nothing more than allegations; they gave their support to a law that allows the secretary of state to ban entire Web sites on the grounds that they <i>might</i> at some time in the future be used to hold information that <i>may</i> breach copyright, and they gave the secretary of state the power to amend copyright law as they see fit without recourse to Parliament.<br /><br />In the same week, the Tories also refused to stand firm on removing DNA of innocent people from databases because otherwise they might be perceived to look week on crime.<br /><br />It's not been a great week for their principles or their commitment to freedom of expression. Lucky for them they had the argument over NI to distract attention from their cowardice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com