Contributions
1,629 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)At the risk of more repetition, the point is if there is a new offence of locking on, the police might see people linking arms at a protest and think, understandably, “That is an…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)Some.14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)We have seen some new tactics, but the tactics are mainly old. I understand that Swampy, who we will remember from decades ago, is in a tunnel somewhere under HS2¸ so these things…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 4, as we have been talking about in the debate on the amendments, introduces a new offence of interference with the use or operation of key national infrastructure.…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I am glad the Minister accepts that this is an issue that deserves to be thought about. As this was a probing amendment, we will leave it at that. I beg to ask leave to withdraw…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)There are lots of other bits of legislation that can stop protests and stop people from interfering in all kinds of different ways. The key point that we were trying to make is…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)We are talking about key national infrastructure and whether the use or operation of any key national infrastructure is interfered with or prevented. If an oil refinery is being…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I think that the psyche of the protesters we are talking about, as we have said many times, means that they will not be deterred by legislation generally. The argument we keep…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I think I might have handed my speaking notes to Hansard in my previous handover of information. We have tabled three simple amendments to clause 4, which is on interference with…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 49, in clause 4, page 4, line 30, leave out “interferes with” and insert “prevents”.14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)The Minister made that point to several of the people who gave evidence to us, but they did not accept it. Our point is that the Bill automatically criminalises things that are…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Third sitting)Amendments 47 and 48 are in my name, and I will speak to amendments 32 and 33 in the name of the hon. Member for North East Fife. Amendments 47 and 48 are similar and intended to…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Third sitting)Given the vote that we have had on a similar measure, I see little point in pressing amendment 47 to a Division. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave,…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 37, in clause 3, page 3, line 3, after “fine” insert “not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale”. A person convicted of an offence of obstructing major…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)We will talk properly about injunctions under the new clauses, because we have a new clause on that. To clarify, we are not calling for big thing called a national injunction; we…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 35, in clause 3, page 2, line 26, leave out sub-paragraph (iii). This amendment seeks to limit the range of acts potentially criminalised by this provision.14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)Given that the amendment is not mine and I have only supported it in principle, I will not press it to a vote. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave,…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I absolutely agree; the struggle within policing to have enough people to do the day job is already bad enough. I have been to Berwick, and very often in the summer months, when…14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn . Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.14 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Fourth sitting)I have the wrong speech in front of me. I am so sorry.14 Jun 2022