Must read alert: surveillance state

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Writing on slow speed connection, but you must look at this story in the Mail on Sunday and this article by Simon Davies giving more background. It seems that a "personal decree" made by Jacqui Smith means that from tomorrow all phone records will be made available to nearly 800 local councils, other public bodies and quangoes, without any need for a warrant. Can this be true? And why do  we only learn about it now?