Wilson Doctrine

The Wilson Doctrine is a convention in the United Kingdom that restricts the police and intelligence services from tapping the telephones of Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. It was introduced in 1966 and named after Harold Wilson, the Labour Prime Minister who established the rule. Since it was established, the development of new forms of communication, such as the mobile phone and email, and election of members to the European Parliament and the new devolved legislatures had led to extensions of the doctrine.