What will no doubt be the first of several debates on the renewal of the BBC’s Charter takes place today as the Opposition have chosen to use their first Opposition day of this Parliament to debate a motion criticising the new Charter. The Government have tabled an amendment noting that actually the new Charter has been welcomed by the BBC which negotiated the new deal.

The Investigatory Powers Bill passed its remaining stages in the House of Commons by 444 votes to 69 with both Labour and Conservative MP’s voting in favour and the Bill being opposed by the Scottish Nationalist and Liberal Democrat parties. The Bill will now go to the House of Lords for consideration.