Extensive new powers to intercept and store communications data have been approved as Theresa May told MPs that privacy is "hardwired" into the new rules. The Investigatory Powers Bill, dubbed the Snoopers' Charter, was passed by 266 votes in the House of Commons after Labour and the SNP backed down and abstained rather than voting against. But Ms May faced criticism from her own MPs over concerns that the bill is ill-defined and allows too many organisations too much access to sensitive data. Ken Clarke, a former Home Secretary and Dominic Grieve, the ex-Attorney General, both backed the measures but warned changes must be made at a later stage to ensure privacy is protected. Both Labour and the Scottish National Party abstained from the vote despite expressing concerns that security services will be able to access sensitive internet records on the basis of ill-defined criteria. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham vowed not to "drag down" the bill, adding: "Britain needs a new law in this area. Outright opposition which some are proposing tonight, risks sinking this Bill and leaving the interim laws in place. "To go along with that would be to abdicate our responsibility to the police, security services and most importantly the public." But he said the bill is "not yet worthy of our support" because there are "significant weaknesses" and called for better protections for lawyers, journalists and trade unionists, as well as a tighter definition of which crimes would allow data to be mined. His decision allowed the measures, which compel internet service providers to keep data for 12 months, to pass onto the next stage before becoming British law. Speaking in support of the new powers Ms May told MPs: "Privacy is hard-wired into the Bill. "It strictly limits the public authorities that can use investigatory powers, imposes high thresholds for the use of the most intrusive powers, and sets out in more detail than ever before the safeguards that apply to material obtained under those powers." Wrapping up the debate Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, paid tribute to all the security bodies who keep the UK safe. He said the measures are "necessary to tackle the serious threats we face" and added: "To those who say this bill is rushed ... with the greatest respect that is nonsense. "I am confident that all reasonable concerns can be allayed." He said not passing the bill would make the UK "less safe" from the "myriad of threats we face" as he promised to address all the concerns raised during the debate. But internet service providers, who will be tasked with collecting and storing vast amounts of information under the new bill, warned it has been brought in too quickly. The Internet Service Providers Association said: "Even our members are not yet fully clear about what the bill will mean for them. It is vital that parliament is provided with a sufficient amount of time to scrutinise the bill."