Lots of tweeps have asked for the text of the letter I posted as a screenshot, to Keir Starmer to ask him NOT to whip his MPs to vote for the Patel's anti-democratic Policing Bill.
Here's a thread containing the letter so you can cut and paste it into an email /1
Here's a thread containing the letter so you can cut and paste it into an email /1
Dear Keir Starmer,
I was horrified today to learn about Priti Patel’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, - specifically, the ‘Protest Powers’ clauses which propose significant changes to the policing and control of public protests and demonstrations. In my view /2
I was horrified today to learn about Priti Patel’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, - specifically, the ‘Protest Powers’ clauses which propose significant changes to the policing and control of public protests and demonstrations. In my view /2
Patel’s proposals represent a curbing of our rights as citizens, and an attack on our democracy.
I also find it concerning that the Protest Powers proposals are ‘hidden’ in an huge multi-sectioned Bill which Government appear to be rushing through Parliament to avoid /3
I also find it concerning that the Protest Powers proposals are ‘hidden’ in an huge multi-sectioned Bill which Government appear to be rushing through Parliament to avoid /3
proper scrutiny. I’m particularly dismayed by the suggested amendments to the public order act 1986, as follows:
•to include noise as a reason for curtailing protests or taking action against protesters
•to include the very vague criteria of "impact" as a reason /4
•to include noise as a reason for curtailing protests or taking action against protesters
•to include the very vague criteria of "impact" as a reason /4
for curtailing protests or taking action against protesters
•to increase the number of protesters who can be prosecuted for failing to abide by police restrictions
•to allow protesters to be prosecuted with the assumption that they ought to know the restrictions /5
•to increase the number of protesters who can be prosecuted for failing to abide by police restrictions
•to allow protesters to be prosecuted with the assumption that they ought to know the restrictions /5
•to extend the powers of police to treat single, lone protesters with the same restrictions as for a mass demonstration
•to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a memorial from three months to 10 years /6
•to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a memorial from three months to 10 years /6
• and perhaps most frightening, to propose that Priti Patel herself be legally vested with the power to fundamentally change the criteria of the law at any given time without any real Parliamentary scrutiny
I urge you in your capacity as leader of the Labour Party /7
I urge you in your capacity as leader of the Labour Party /7
as a former human rights lawyer and a decent human being to whip your MPs to vote against this Bill as it stands.
I also ask you to request Govt to separate out the Protest Powers clauses, and to debate and vote on them as a completely separate Bill.
Yours sincerely, /8
I also ask you to request Govt to separate out the Protest Powers clauses, and to debate and vote on them as a completely separate Bill.
Yours sincerely, /8
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