Pooling Information.

How to spin a surge in covert spying, looking into the back gardens and homes of citizens when you’re in government? Once again, split the population, turn one section against another and laud the discovery of undeclared taxation.

There were more than 3.2 million private swimming pools in France in 2020, according to data website Statista, with sales already booming before the Covid pandemic. But as more employees worked from home, there was a further surge in pool installations.

Tax on these luxuries – paid for after wages had been taxed – amounts to an average of 200€ each year and a surge in the use of AI has discovered 20,000 extra pools. “Bravo”, say the jealous, we have caught these people who have dared to invest in their own homes and gardens. But what price do you put on privacy?

Could the same be used in the UK? Well, if we had the land available to the average French homeowner, it might, but with England a third of the size with a burgeoning population, maybe pools aren’t likely to be what the authorities are looking for?

So, what is it they are looking for? Criminals? I once tried to get hold of cctv footage to show the alleged perpetrators of an attack that occurred in a city centre pub I ran. The cameras were allegedly switched off! If your private security camera infringes someone else’s privacy, it has to go, but different rules apply to the state.

Somehow, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled in December 2014 that the legal frameworks in the United Kingdom governing the bulk interception of data and intelligence sharing with agencies in other countries do not breach the European Convention on Human Rights and are compliant with Articles 8 (right to privacy) and 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The UK, and indeed much of Western Europe, is in a headlong rush towards a social credit system akin to that of China. The only place our leaders take notice of anything is at the ballot box. We must have freedom-minded individuals fighting at every election.

Four million people brought about Brexit – something none of the Parliamentary parties wanted. How bad does it have to get before people fight the constantly increasing invasion of privacy?

Martin Day – Party Secretary