Thread by @pimlicat

Remember, this government is pushing through SEVERAL bills that are very authoritarian.

They are each at different stages. Some are in the Lords, others back in the Commons.

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Three of the most concerning are:

1. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (going back to HoC)
2. The Elections Bill (going back to HoL)
3. The Nationality and Borders Bill (Cttee stage in HoL)

Last night, the Gvt was roundly defeated by the Lords on the PCSC Bill (#PolicingBill). This Bill now goes back to the HoC where we hope MPs will listen and accept the HoL amendments.

The @BestForBritain amndmt to protect right of protest in Parliament Sq was one of those.

But many other groups have been doing amazing work on the Bill too, and it was a great example of collaborative, cross-party working.

The Policing Bill seeks to ban noisy protest, ban where we can protest, and how. It is no measure of a healthy democracy to stifle peaceful demonstrations.

The Elections Bill introduces Voter ID, but even more worryingly, hands huge powers to Ministers and defangs the independent elections watchdog. It will have a very chilling effect on the participation of civil society in political discourse because of rule changes on spending.

Again, @BestForBritain is working with dozens of other groups and cross-party parliamentarians to oppose and amend it. Because of the big gvt majority in HoC, we will have to work with the HoL to hopefully amend the worst of it.

The Borders Bill similarly contains reams of terrible policy. A newly inserted Clause 9 for instance, could make people stateless just because they are eligible for another citizenship, even if they don't already hold it.

And let's not forget what the government is also doing on judicial review and the right for journalists to protect their sources.

It all amounts to the most authoritarian power grab this country has seen in our lifetimes. And if the Elections Bill goes through unamended, it will make it even harder to replace this government at the next election.

That's why we, as an internationalist organisation, are spending so much effort on fighting these domestic bills. If we want a less nativist Gvt, we need to be able to campaign at elections, to protest outside parliament & to protect citizens' rights.

I hope that's vaguely helpful in explaining where we are at, why we are where we are, and what we're doing about it.

We need more cross-party working, ahead of an election. We need a better voting system. And a much better relationship with Europe.

That's our work. We'll keep on keeping on.

And we're incredibly grateful to you all for your support, encouragement and action.

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