Clegg Clings to Straws

I don't think Nick Clegg understands, when he uses the analogy in reference to intelligence gathering, quite the complexity of searching for needles in haystacks.  If one is looking for a needle in a haystack, in order to be certain of finding the needle, it would be necessary to examine all the pieces of straw.  In other words, if one is looking for someone who is intent on causing our people harm, we must examine all the evidence available in order to find and stop them.  This is inescapable and, however incompatible with utopian notions of privacy, entirely necessary.  Clegg is wrong again in stating that by examining all sources of evidence there is presumption of guilt of the whole population.  His example, "Mrs Miggins visiting the supermarket" may, indeed prove irrelevant but maybe, just maybe, Mrs Miggins is not all she seems!  Who is going to decide that Mrs Miggins must not be examined and who will be accountable for such decisions?  Is Mr Clegg suggesting that we only spy on some of our people but not on others? Just which areas are on or off limits and who will take responsibility for defining them. Not Mr Clegg, I bet!

Clearly Mr Clegg feels there are votes to be won by championing the right to privacy but he may care to reflect upon the surge in popularity by President Hollande following his tough reaction to the outrages in France and conclude that there may be more votes in promising to keep people as safe as possible in the first place.  However, once he sees which way the public mood is drifting, I feel sure he will have no difficulty in adjusting his stance accordingly!

At times of national peril like this we must trust the governance of oversight arrangements to ensure proportionality and confidentiality.  If GCHQ make the case for additional powers who are amateurs like us to disagree?  Finally, let us remember that capability (to collect intelligence) does not mean that all intelligence is, necessarily, collected!