The UK might not be a democracy by January 2022. Please AMA [Edited by MNHQ at poster's request]

[oatmilk4breakfast]

This is disturbing to write but absolutely true. The Home Secretary added in 18 pages of legislation to a new piece of law they want to pass AFTER it had been debated in House of Commons.

The changes and additions are targeted at Insulate Britain protesters but they are so wide and so sweeping they will affect all of us. Any of us, protesting locally or nationally about anything - nurses' pay, funding for schools, local libraries - ANYTHING. If the authorities don't like it these laws would give them powers to shut it down and issue bans on people ever protesting anything again. Imagine having an ASBO because you took part in some strike action, or protested the demolition of your local swimming pool. These laws will affect EVERYONE.

Please see: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/fundamental/protest-rights/

But most importantly please write to your MP this week to say you object to the additions in Part 3 of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill and ask for your objections to be passed to the Lords Minister, Baroness Williams.

It's weird to be writing this. Don't just take my word for it - it's hard to find on the news because it isn't being reported much but look on Govt website, or Liberty or search Adam Wagner, human rights lawyer - very respected. The worrying amendments are 319 A - K.

I have a template letter that I've written if you need.

We need to act this month. It's being reviewed in House of Lords but this is last chance. It will be law in January and we will be living in a different country. One in which freedom of expression is no longer a thing.

Thank you for posting this.

I'm planning to write to as many Lords as I can asking to remove amendments 55-61. They're the ones who can blunt the worst of this now.

Theres also a protest on Wednesday.

Could you send me your template letter please? I'll write to my MP too.

What is the Bill?

Hi, here's the letter I've sent - don't know if it's any good, I'm not a campaigner!!

Template letter addressing the amendments that were added in this week....

Remember to give name and address in constituency.

Dear [name of MP]

Please would you pass on to the Lords Minister of State, Baroness Williams, my concerns about Part 3 of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill.

As a citizen I am deeplyconcerned by how sweeping these laws are.

I want to speak up for a country that respects democracy and freedom.We have responsibilities in society. We also have rights.

Please pass on my concerns and do what you can to ensure freedom of expression is not curtailed in the ways that are being proposed.

Specifically I'm referring to:

• Amendments 319 A, B, C, D, E and K

‘Locking on’ and ’being equipped for locking on’ - these terms could be interpreted so widely that holding hands at or even near a protest or having superglue on your person while standing near a protest could lead to a prison sentence. This is not good law-making.

Obstructing a highway needn’t necessarily mean sitting down in a road and blocking ambulances. It might mean walking down a street carrying a banner. The proposed ‘stop and search’ powers would mean that anyone can be searched just for being near a gathering. The gatherings this would affect need not be civil disobedience they might equally refer to any kind of protest or strike action - the proposed closure of local libraries for example.

The Serious Disruption Prevention Orders could see people being summoned to appear in front of authorities at any time once their name has been ‘marked’, for example, for trying to organise a gathering that people in Government or local authorise object to.

These are very fundamental freedoms that are about to be taken away without anyone realising and they will affect everyone in the country. These laws have no place in a democracy.

The Government must know these proposals are illegitimate as they have inserted them at the very last moment before the Bill is due to pass into law.

Until now, I have been proud to tell my child that we live in a free country.

As my representative in Parliament, please would you pass my deep concerns and objections to the Minister.

Yours sincerely,

@Iggly

What is the Bill?

Hi Iggly - the bill is the Police Crime and Sentencing Bill. It's going to be debated in the House of Lords now. Hopefully they will make some better amendments, then these will back to the Commons but MPs in Commons don't have to accept any amendments that Lords make. So at that stage it will be about engaging with Backbencher Conservatives in you like a constituency with a Conservative MP.

Thanks so much for responding. Feel like I'm going a bit mad. This is nowhere and next to no-one is talking about it apart from Kill the Bill protesters, but unfortunately I think the image conjured by that name will put some people off. This is about respecting democracy and freedom for everyone.

Agree, it's terrifying and no-one is talking about it. You might want to ask MN HQ to edit your title though as it looks out of date - you mean (I'm guessing) Jan 2022.

Thanks for raising it.

Email sent, thank you oatmilk4breakfast

@Brigittebidet

Agree, it's terrifying and no-one is talking about it. You might want to ask MN HQ to edit your title though as it looks out of date - you mean (I'm guessing) Jan 2022.

Thanks for raising it.

Omg thank you