Belfast News Editorial: Coalition Test

As the new coalition government rushes out all the bad news, in their attempts to have us see them as our Saviours, it will be interesting to see if they remove acts of parliament, designed to encroach on our freedoms and liberty.

Yes, we have seen the ID Card scheme abolished but this was in part due to financial considerations, but will they remove acts of parliament that Labour used to make criminals of people protesting outside their own parliament and from exercising their right to free speech outside official dwelling such as Downing Street. Will they remove policies introduced to appease minorities or designed as political correct gimmicks.

One of the most controversial policies was a legal requirement forcing net firms to store data, such as emails and net phone calls, but is there a willingness to see off such European Directives. 

Despite ISPs & other telecommunications firms resisting these proposals in the UK and other EU Countries contesting this directive, New Labour introduced this law, but will the Coalition government remove it!

At present this directive forces all ISPs in the EU to store all such records for a year, but it follows an earlier directive which requires Telecom firms to hold on to telephone records for a year.

So, does Nick Clegg and David Cameron have the will to protect Britain, will they follow Sweden's lead and ignore the directive, will they follow the German's lead and go to court, or is their policy to protect Britain just smoke and mirrors!

Last Updated: 28th July 2010