Did the Queen Just Resurrect the Snooper's Charter? 214
DavidGilbert99 writes "This time last year the Queen officially introduced the Communications Data Bill (known as the Snooper's Charter to those opposing it). Last month it was effectively killed when the UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said it went too far and he wouldn't support it. Today the Queen was back and while there was no official mention of the Communications Data Bill, there was mention of 'crime in cyberspace' and a very strong hint that more legislation to monitor people's online activity is on the way."
The Queen (Score:5, Informative)
I don't think the queen had much to do with it so I'm not sure why she's getting a mention. This would fall under "official duties that have to be carried out or I lose my allowance". The royalty just do as they are told by the politicians.
For those outside of the UK (Score:5, Informative)
The Queens speech is not written by the Queen.
It's a summary of the Governments plans for the next legislative period, written by the government.
She just reads it out.
Queen's speech interpreted as meaning bill is dead (Score:5, Informative)
The Queen's speech outlined the various bills that Parliment intends to bring in, and the "snooper's charter" [bbc.co.uk] wasn't one of them; the absence of any given bill from the speech is widely (and uncontroversially) taken to mean that the bill is dead [bbc.co.uk]. The government's comments that it intends to find other ways to address computer crime would seem to back this interpretation.
Re:The Queen (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Dishonesty is not healthy. (Score:3, Informative)
You said, "The Queen's speech will have been written for her by Parliament, so in instances like this, her opinions are not really her own."
Notice that you are suggesting that dishonesty is acceptable.
There is no dishonesty. The speech is written by the leadership of the governing party (not Parliament) and is phrased to make it clear that they are the ones actually speaking. So she will say "My government will..." rather than "I will..."
The only falsehood, if there is any, is the pretence that she has any significant control over "her" government.