Local politicians from across the political spectrum have expressed their solidarity with the #killthebillprotests that took place across the country on Saturday (April 3rd) in opposition to the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
The Bill, which will likely be back in Parliament for a third reading in July, seeks to give the police more powers to limit or even criminalise protests that are too loud, or a “nuisance” to the public. It also gives Police greater powers to stop and search and works to criminalise living in a vehicle on land without consent.
The bill has been widely criticised for undermining the right to protest. As the powers to criminalise protests that are too loud or a “nuisance” are incredibly subjective, they could be used against any protesters raising issues inconvenient to those in power.
John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, joined the protest taking place in Trafalgar square and "applauded the impressive young people" expressing their "determination to demand change" and resisting the Government's attack on "our civil liberties".
Jonathan Banks, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Ruislip, Pinner and Northwood also expressed solidarity with the protests commenting on Twitter:
"The right to protest peacefully - in a democracy - is a basic tenet. It's staggering that even this Govt want to close that right down".
As Prime Minister, Conservative Uxbridge & South Ruislip MP Boris Johnson backs the Policing Bill, describing it as a “sensible package of measures”. David Simmonds, Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner, is also on record as being in favour, saying it has "the potential to do a lot of good and reform our justice system".
Mark Keir, from Hillingdon Green Party, has been contacted for comment.
Cover Photo Credit: Tim Dennell. Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
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