Lord Carlile criticises proposals for judges to approve spying warrants

Former reviewer of terrorism legislation says it would be glib to require judicial oversight of applications by security services to intercept communications

It would be glib for the government to require judges to approve warrants to intercept communications, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has said, as he called for an end to the "demonisation" of the security services.

Alex Carlile QC, a Liberal Democrat peer and former MP, was speaking ahead of the publication of a draft of the investigatory powers bill, due on Wednesday, amid a political debate about whether politicians should be stripped of the power to sign off intercept warrants.