Battle looms over Police Bill

Labour will fight the Government over controversial plans on police surveillance next week, the party's home affairs spokesman said yesterday.

As a result, ministers could find themselves facing defeat when the Police Bill is debated in the House of Lords. Jack Straw, the shadow Home Secretary, said Labour peers would oppose measures that would allow the police to "bug and burgle" private property without prior consent. The party had previously supported the measures, but changed its stance on Thursday. Fran Abrams