News Editor
The story claimed that Government was planning to ‘spy’ on every email, text message and website visit via a huge big brother database.
Anyone comparing the story with the front page of The Independent at newsstands this morning would be confused. Our story said the database was being cancelled.
So who was right? Well The Telegraph story was right – but only in October last year when The Independent first reported it.
What happened yesterday was that the government announced it was withdrawing the measure from the Queen’s Speech – delaying the database for at least a year and for far longer if, as expected, Labour lose the next general election. Privately ministers admit that the database is “in the very long grass”. None of this is reflected in The Telegraph story.
In general those of us in glass houses should not throw stones. But The Telegraph story was disingenuous – as anyone following the story knows.


Comments
I'm off to have a coffee before it's banned.
Col Chuck Arseburger.
Didn't the government state they had cancelled the secret inquest proposal, we now find it literally passed under the radar, question just what constitutes a lie?
Why should we or the Independent believe the proposed 'spying' of emails etc has been cancelled?
If you really want to know what this government is upto listen what they say then look at what would be diametrically opposite to the statement & that's their true position.
Then when they knock on your door begging for your vote at the next general election little point in asking why you should trust them, just ask them the question just what constitutes a lie?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop
and here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop
Personally, I'm not convinced that "in the very long grass" is the same as "cancelled". Oops
Quite.