MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new security bill despite human rights charities warning it risks “authorising crimes like torture and killing”.
The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill was passed at second reading in the House of Commons on Monday night, with 182 voting in favour and just 20 voting against.
A total of 19 Labour MPs voted against the bill despite being issued with a one-line whip from the party’s leadership instructing them to abstain from voting.
The bill seeks to legitimise the controversial MI5 practice of allowing officers and informants to participate in criminal activity if the offences involved are proportionate to the evidence gained.
Credit: Parliamentlive.tv