Blunkett was almost immediately faced with September 11 attacks on the USA . He brought in new anti-terrorism measures , including detention without trial of suspect foreign nationals who could not be extradited or deported . It caused a backbench rebellion and provoked strong opposition in the House of Lords , and Blunkett made concessions over incitement to religious hatred ( later carried through by his successor ) and to introduce a " sunset clause " . He authorised MI5 to start collecting bulk telephone communications data on which telephone numbers called each other and when , authorised under a little understood general power under the Telecommunications Act 1984 instead of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which would have brought independent oversight and regulation . This was kept secret until announced by the then Home Secretary in 2015
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
David Blunkett