JOURNALISTS and pro-democracy groups voiced alarm yesterday in the wake of Westminster leaders’ strong-arm tactics to bolster state snooping laws.

The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill swept through all three stages in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening following Tory PM David Cameron’s back-room deal with Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Just a handful of MPs sat in on the “emergency” debate, but hundreds repeatedly traipsed into the chamber to vote under orders from party whips — and then promptly left again.