Dear John

Lords removed ‘noisy protest’ ban from Policing Bill

Your chance to tell your MP to stop the government putting it back in

Last week, the Policing Bill returned to the House of Lords for the second time. The Bill is now in ‘ping pong’ between the Lords and the Commons with the Lords putting amendments in, the Government’s MPs taking them out and the Lords putting them back in again.

The Bill is still bad, it creates draconian new punishments for a range of offences and restricts rights to protest freely among other things. But Peers have defied the Government’s Commons majority to put some amendments back into the Bill - including the amendment to prevent the criminalisation of ‘noisy protests’. 

Disappointingly, our amendment protecting the right to assemble on Parliament Square was not saved this time. The Government Minister instead was forced to give an assurance in the House that peaceful protest in Parliament Square would still be allowed under their new rules. We have asked the Minister to provide that assurance in writing and we are seeking the same from the Met Police and the Greater London Authority.

If and when the bill becomes an Act, we may need to test whether these ‘assurances’ allowing us to protest in Parliament Square really will hold firm…

In the meantime, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that peaceful protestors remain free to be as noisy and impactful as necessary. 

The Government is seeking to criminalise people like you and me for using our voices. Opposing its contents is the only way forward for democracy. And it’s vital we take action now and make our passionate opposition known. 

Thank you for reading this far, I hope you take heart from the fact that our work - your work - is making a difference. The more that Peers and MPs hear us, the greater the pressure facing the Government. 

Your support, in any way you are able to give it, is appreciated. And it is vital. Thank you for being with us as we fight to save our democracy.

Best wishes,

Naomi Smith 

CEO - Best for Britain

P.S. Our team is working flat out to monitor, research and understand policies and legislation and coordinate action from grassroots campaigning to meeting and briefing MPs and Peers. It all costs money! Please consider supporting Best for Britain by becoming a Fellow Traveller for £10 per month.