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Call for ban over MSP phone taps |
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BBC Scotland The Scottish National Party is calling for MSPs to be given immunity from phone tapping by MI5 security officers.
8 May 2006
Under rules introduced by Harold Wilson in the 60s, MPs are immune from surveillance by MI5.
Nationalists at Holyrood claim the security services hold a number of files on them and there is at least one example of their phones being tapped.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the matter was reserved and should be referred to the prime minister.
Special Branch
South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame said she had received confirmation from BT that her phone had been tapped by someone.
The Wilson Doctrine was introduced in 1966 amid fears that security service surveillance of MPs could undermine democracy.
Ms Grahame pointed out that the doctrine was defended recently at Westminster by Labour and Lib Dem backbenchers.
The SNP is currently awaiting a judgement from the information commissioner on a request to discover how many files on the party are held by Special Branch.
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