Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 750 party members responded – thank you – and we’re publishing the full results.
Edward Snowden’s leaking of US and British intelligence material revealed the extent of the authorities’ surveillance – what do Lib Dem members make of it all?
Almost three-quarters (72%) say Snowden right to leak intelligence files to media
Earlier this year Edward Snowden, an IT contractor working for the CIA, leaked confidential documents to the press about how the United States government was monitoring telephone calls and emails. Do you think Mr. Snowden was right or wrong to give this information to the press?
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72% – Right
17% – Wrong
8% – Don’t know
3% – Other
69% say state authorities’ surveillance powers should be cut back
Do you think the state authorities have too many powers to carry out surveillance on ordinary people in Britain, too few powers to carry out surveillance, or is the balance about right?
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69% – Have too many surveillance powers – they should be cut back
1% – Do not have enough surveillance powers – they should be given greater powers
21% – The balance is about right
4% – Don’t know
4% – Other
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
2 Comments
It would have been unsurprising if the percentages had been yet higher. This is a touch stone cause for a Liberal Party.
First rate result! Where did the 1% for more surveillance come from, though? It would ben hard to think how, apart from tagging us, that could be achieved; and there doesn’t seem to be much “balance” in surveillance at present, it is all rather one way: I believe the police are known even to try to prevent reporters photographing them at work in the street?
Anyway, liberalism and democracy are still juist with us: three cheers!