Liberal Democrat MPs will today [Monday 28th February] vote against the Government’s attempts to reintroduce draconian laws cracking down on the right to protest.
Two key laws were removed from the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill through Liberal Democrat amendments in the House of Lords last month.
They would create new powers to impose restrictions on public assemblies and one-person protests. Liberal Democrats also supported cross-party amendments to remove the power to ban protests that are “too noisy”.
The Government has tabled motions to overturn those Lords amendments, which the House of Commons will debate today.
Ahead of the votes, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Priti Patel’s Protest Crackdown Laws are dangerous and draconian. The fundamental right to peaceful assembly and protest has always been a crucial part of our democratic society.
“These new laws are part of the Conservative Government’s anti-democratic attempts to silence any opposition to its policies. Liberal Democrats are fiercely resisting them.
“I am proud of the work Liberal Democrats and others have done in the House of Lords to take out the worst parts of this Bill. Today we will fight to prevent the Government adding them back in, and I hope MPs from all parties will join us.”
Local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani added: “Right now in Russia, there are thousands of people who are being arrested for protesting their country’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. If there were ever a time when we should be standing up for people’s legitimate right to peaceful protest, it should be now.”