Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and David Davis warn against eroding “ancient liberties” and the implications for individual freedoms

Several senior Tory MPs have voiced strong opposition to the Government’s plans to grant police the power to enter private properties without a warrant if they have reasonable evidence of stolen goods being inside.

Former cabinet ministers David Davis and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg were among the most vocal critics of the proposal, which is part of the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill introduced in the King’s Speech. The Bill would allow police officers to seize stolen items, such as mobile phones, when they can demonstrate reasonable grounds, potentially using GPS tracking to pinpoint stolen goods.

David Davis described the plan as a “fundamental mistake” and argued it posed a significant threat to personal freedoms. He warned that allowing police to enter homes without judicial oversight undermined core British values, such as the right to not have the state invade one’s home without proper legal process. “This is one of the fundamental foundation stones of free British society,” he remarked, stressing the importance of judicial approval for searches.

Echoing these concerns, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg also raised alarms over the potential erosion of long-standing constitutional safeguards. While praising the police force overall, he expressed concern about the current leadership and questioned whether it was the right time to extend police powers. “If they are to come through your door, they need evidence and a warrant. It is a foundation of our liberties,” Sir Jacob stated. He further emphasised that the King’s Speech should not be the platform for diminishing these “ancient liberties.”

Though both MPs broadly supported the Government’s legislative agenda outlined in the King’s Speech, they insisted that caution was needed before pushing forward with the proposed changes to police powers. Davis specifically urged the Government to reconsider the implications of the measure, stressing that it could lead to abuses of power.

In addition to their concerns over civil liberties, both Davis and Rees-Mogg addressed other topics within the Government’s plans, including migration and environmental policies. Rees-Mogg advocated for stronger measures to control migration and criticised the “burdens” of net-zero emission targets, suggesting the Government should go further in rolling back restrictions. On the topic of petrol and diesel cars, he supported the delayed ban, arguing that technological advancements should come before regulatory mandates.

Rees-Mogg also called for reductions in tariffs, trade barriers, and business regulations, while criticising the Bank of England’s handling of quantitative easing, describing it as “insanity.”

These interventions reflect growing tensions within the Conservative Party over the direction of the Government’s policies, particularly around issues of personal freedom, migration control, and economic management.