Thread by @thatginamiller

Make no mistake, under the cover of #COVID19 this government is profiteering in terms of power. I've been trying to get people to wake up – eg article I wrote in Dec 2020 theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
But against the back drop of last night on #ClaphamCommon
1/11

And the #PoliceCrimeSentencingCourtsBill coming before #Parliament tomorrow/Tues, we need a social media storm before we end up with a police state where our silence results in our civil liberties eroded in ways that it will be almost impossible to claw back.
2/11

The Bill's factsheets are here gov.uk/government/pub… - but how can 300 pages was only published last Tuesday with the deadline for Mps to speak on Friday & with 2 days to debate not be undermining Parliament's sovereignty and our fundamental rights?
3/11

Clauses 54 – 56 & 60 give the police huge powers & undermines our basic rights to peaceful protest & assemble - for we the people to express our concerns & to check power. Police powers to intervene if protests are noisy, cause offence, have an 'impact' on the community.
4/11

It creates a huge controlled area around Parliament where protests cannot take place. But people protest to make politicians listen which is why they take place in Parliament Square. This feels like 'out of sight out of mind'
5/11

My 1st demo was against the Iraq war Feb 2003 - won't be possible for younger generations under this Bill. No marches such as the Suffragettes in Feb 1907, Anti-Apartheid Protests in 1985, #BLM protests 2020, climate change protects, Brexit marches. None in future!
6/11

The #PoliceCrackdownBill also contains increases in sentences which are unevidenced – as is remote attendance at court.
It contains harsher punishments for peaceful protests against statues of slave owners than for violent crime or #rape
7/11

Stop & search thejusticegap.com/new-stop-and-s…
‘Kevin Blowe of Netpol said proposals risk ‘creating a class of people who are treated as “permanent criminals” – or who are regularly misidentified as such’ & risks further criminalising vulnerable youngsters coerced into crime,’
8/11

Mps of all parties @HouseofCommons – especially Conservative MPs - must refuse the Govt's timetable - Making laws that impact our #democracy , all our rights and guarantee a check on power means they must be carefully drafted and debated so they stand the test of time.
9/11

Emergency measures protect public health during a #pandemic but the pathway out of the pandemic must also be a pathway back to the core of our democracy, our Parliamentary sovereignty. MPs mustn't renew draconian powers in the Emergency Coronavirus Act on March 29 10/11

On #MotheringSunday – I beseech you to bombard #MPs so they oppose the Govt’s degrading of the important Mother of our representative democracy – our Mother of all Parliaments & ensure scrutiny, accountability & sovereignty
MPs details here members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
11/11