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Slow-walk protest law heads for further Lords clash Slow-walk protest law heads for further Lords clash
(2 days later)
The government is being accused of trying to by-pass Parliament and rewrite the laws on public protests by "sneaky" means.The government is being accused of trying to by-pass Parliament and rewrite the laws on public protests by "sneaky" means.
MPs and peers are due to debate new regulations next week, which will give the police clearer powers to stop slow-walking protest marches blocking roads and bringing cities to a halt.MPs and peers are due to debate new regulations next week, which will give the police clearer powers to stop slow-walking protest marches blocking roads and bringing cities to a halt.
The changes are designed to provide a clearer definition of what "serious disruption to the life of communities" means, so the police would be better able to block or impose conditions on demonstrations thought likely to cause it.The changes are designed to provide a clearer definition of what "serious disruption to the life of communities" means, so the police would be better able to block or impose conditions on demonstrations thought likely to cause it.
The new definition would cover the cumulative impact of repeated protests and disruption and delays, with "community" defined as any citizens who might be affected.The new definition would cover the cumulative impact of repeated protests and disruption and delays, with "community" defined as any citizens who might be affected.
I’ve not lobbied Labour over Just Stop Oil - donorI’ve not lobbied Labour over Just Stop Oil - donor
Peers defeat plans to curb protest disruptionPeers defeat plans to curb protest disruption
Ministers suffer defeats in Lords over crime billMinisters suffer defeats in Lords over crime bill
Taken together these would provide a much clearer legal basis for imposing bans or restrictions.Taken together these would provide a much clearer legal basis for imposing bans or restrictions.
Conservative peer Lord Jackson said the government was reacting to public concern about protests by groups like Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil, and slow-walking tactics, which could "clog up whole city centres".Conservative peer Lord Jackson said the government was reacting to public concern about protests by groups like Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil, and slow-walking tactics, which could "clog up whole city centres".
The government majority in the Commons should see the order voted through by MPs on Monday, but it must also be approved in the Lords, on Tuesday, and there is no government majority in that House, so it is at least technically possible that the regulations could be defeated.The government majority in the Commons should see the order voted through by MPs on Monday, but it must also be approved in the Lords, on Tuesday, and there is no government majority in that House, so it is at least technically possible that the regulations could be defeated.
There's also a looming row about the way the regulations have been introduced.There's also a looming row about the way the regulations have been introduced.
Peers defeated exactly the same policy, when the government attempted to add it to the Public Order Bill in the Lords, in February.Peers defeated exactly the same policy, when the government attempted to add it to the Public Order Bill in the Lords, in February.
So many are now angry that a policy they rejected has been brought back as regulations, particularly because they are not allowed to propose changes, and, by convention, they never reject them.So many are now angry that a policy they rejected has been brought back as regulations, particularly because they are not allowed to propose changes, and, by convention, they never reject them.
Conservative former Cabinet minister Lord Hunt of Wirral said the government was seeking to bring the changes in, "in a way, through the back door", completely ignoring the decision the House of Lords had made in February.Conservative former Cabinet minister Lord Hunt of Wirral said the government was seeking to bring the changes in, "in a way, through the back door", completely ignoring the decision the House of Lords had made in February.
He will be calling for assurances that ministers would not try the same thing again.He will be calling for assurances that ministers would not try the same thing again.
Meanwhile, the Green Party's Barones Jones has put down a "fatal motion" to block the regulations. This by convention is something peers virtually never do. Meanwhile, the Green Party's Baroness Jones has put down a "fatal motion" to block the regulations. This by convention is something peers virtually never do.
She said she had thought long and hard before putting her motion, but she said: "We threw this out and they're bringing it back in a sneaky way - and quite honestly it's breaking all the rules."She said she had thought long and hard before putting her motion, but she said: "We threw this out and they're bringing it back in a sneaky way - and quite honestly it's breaking all the rules."
Lord Jackson retorts that the Lords would in danger of "legislative over-reach" if it believed it knew better than the elected Commons - their role was to revise legislation, not strike it down. Lord Jackson retorted that the Lords would be in danger of "legislative over-reach" if it believed it knew better than the elected Commons - their role was to revise legislation, not strike it down.
Labour stanceLabour stance
For the opposition parties to defeat the government in the Lords, they need Labour on board, and Baroness Jones hopes they will allow their peers at least a free vote.For the opposition parties to defeat the government in the Lords, they need Labour on board, and Baroness Jones hopes they will allow their peers at least a free vote.
But Labour shadow Home Office minister Lord Coaker says his party is not prepared to break the normal conventions of the Lords to defeat the changes.But Labour shadow Home Office minister Lord Coaker says his party is not prepared to break the normal conventions of the Lords to defeat the changes.
"We certainly aren't going to vote to kill it. Our position is very clear. The government have brought it back in what we regard as an underhand way."We certainly aren't going to vote to kill it. Our position is very clear. The government have brought it back in what we regard as an underhand way.
"We're going to vote against it in the Commons on Monday to lay out our position, but we're not going to fall into the elephant trap of the government using this to show us standing in the way of the democratic will of the elected government, or the elephant trap of them saying we're somehow in the pockets of Just Stop Oil.""We're going to vote against it in the Commons on Monday to lay out our position, but we're not going to fall into the elephant trap of the government using this to show us standing in the way of the democratic will of the elected government, or the elephant trap of them saying we're somehow in the pockets of Just Stop Oil."
Related TopicsRelated Topics
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
House of LordsHouse of Lords