To the fifth anniversary of Big Brother Watch, where Mr S joined David Davis and Alan Rusbridger in an apartment opposite Thames House to raise a glass to the campaign group’s victories against the surveillance state.
Matthew Elliot, the organisation’s founder, told attendees that Big Brother Watch’s biggest role ‘is to make sure that the arguments for civil liberties for privacy and against surveillance are properly heard,’ in what has at times become a tense debate between the government and civil liberties campaigners.
The guest of honour Alan Rusbridger certainly made sure such arguments were aired when he took to the mic. In his speech, the Guardian editor-in-chief swiftly turned his attention to the former Daily Telegraph editor Max Hastings, for a column he wrote arguing that civil liberties groups should not get in the way of government security.
‘There was quite a remarkable piece in the Daily Mail by Max Hastings.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in