Advertisement
Politics

Government defeated for third time in a row on attempt to ban ‘noisy’ protest

MPs will again get the chance to scrap the plans for greater police powers.

The government has been defeated for the third time in a row on its attempt to ban “noisy” protests.

The House of Lords this afternoon voted to remove a measure allowing police to ban protests deemed noisy or disruptive from the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill, the third time it has done so since January.

Police were granted the power to dictate the start and end time of static protests, as revealed yesterday by The Big Issue, in a concession made to the government after Labour withdrew its support for firmer resistance.

Peers condemned the measures in the bill, with Conservative Lord Deben saying: “It is incomprehensible how you can have a law which gives the police the right to stop a protest because it might be too noisy.”

As the bill passes between the Commons and the Lords, peers argued over whether to give in or stand their ground in a process known as “ping pong.”

MPs voted on Monday to reinstate the anti-protest measures to the bill, but peers decided – against arguments to respect the opinion of the elected house – to take them out again.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The bill has been the subject of Kill the Bill protests across the country since its introduction.

Speaking during the debate, crossbench peer Baroness Fox said the extra police powers were not necessary: “We end up with a disproportionate and unnecessary commitment by the government to deal with a non-problem.”

In the wake of the vote, human rights charity Liberty urged the public to email their MP and ask them to “bin the undemocratic measures for good” when the bill re-enters the Commons.

Advertisement

Support someone in your own community

With our online vendor map, you can support a local vendor by supplementing their income with a subscription to Big Issue. For every annual subscription sold via a vendor, a vendor receives £50.

Recommended for you

Read All
Windsor framework: Why Rishi Sunak was able to secure the Brexit deal that others couldn’t
Brexit

Windsor framework: Why Rishi Sunak was able to secure the Brexit deal that others couldn’t

Betty Boothroyd: From campaigning for JFK to becoming the first female speaker
Politics

Betty Boothroyd: From campaigning for JFK to becoming the first female speaker

Calls grow for Ukraine-style visa scheme allowing Turkey and Syria earthquake victims to reunite with family in UK
Turkey and Syria earthquakes

Calls grow for Ukraine-style visa scheme allowing Turkey and Syria earthquake victims to reunite with family in UK

Democracy is under threat, warns Bernie Sanders
Exclusive

Democracy is under threat, warns Bernie Sanders

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

No internet, no opportunities: Addressing the challenges of digital exclusion in the UK
2.

No internet, no opportunities: Addressing the challenges of digital exclusion in the UK

What are 15-minute cities? The truth about the plans popping up from Oxford all the way to Melbourne
3.

What are 15-minute cities? The truth about the plans popping up from Oxford all the way to Melbourne

They Might Be Giants is not a cult: How they built a birdhouse in your soul... and a 40-year sustainable creative enterprise
4.

They Might Be Giants is not a cult: How they built a birdhouse in your soul... and a 40-year sustainable creative enterprise