The irony of Blair's last act of Prime Ministerial patronage

How ironic that one of the last acts of a man that has destoryed a number of liberties and also precided over a social authoritarian Government (continuity with Brown there I imagine) should be to re-appoint a "Surveillance Commissioner" under the Orwellian Regulatory Investigatory Power Act.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair): In accordance with section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have agreed to re-appoint the right hon. Lord Coulsfield as a Surveillance Commissioner and, in accordance with section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, I have also agreed to appoint his hon. Norman Jones QC as an Assistant Surveillance Commissioner. Both appointments will run from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010.

Lord Coulsfield has served as a Surveillance Commissioner since 2004.

As he leaves the stage he reminds us all that the surveillance society that has built up under his leadership is still going strong.