Government gears up for battle over surveillance powers

Downing Street faces tough fight after backing away from calls to strip ministers of surveillance powers

A general view of GCHQ Scarborough
(Image credit: Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool /Getty)

A row over surveillance has broken out after a government-commissioned report suggested that ministers should be stripped of their powers to authorise surveillance warrants.

The report, compiled by David Anderson QC, proposes a complete overhaul of Britain's surveillance laws and suggests that only judges be allowed to approve warrants, a move that has been welcomed by privacy campaigners.

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