Written Answers Friday, 12 October 2007House of Lords
Demonstrations: Parliament SquareBaroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) |
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the consultation, mentioned by the Prime Minister in his pre-Queen's Speech statement, on the provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 concerning demonstrations in Parliament Square will take place.
Lord West of Spithead (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Security and Counter-terrorism), Home Office)
The consultation referred to by the noble Baroness will commence shortly.
Why, exactly, could there not have been a standard 12 week Public Consultation during the Summer Recess ?
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer has previously tabled a Private Members Bill to repeal the wretched SOCPA legislation relating to the suppression of fre 2005e speech, freedom of assembly and peaceful protest.
Lord West of Spithead is the retired senior military and intelligence officer who has been controversially appointed as the Home Office Security Minister. Whilst obviously more competent than the "not fit for purpose" Labour MPs who are Ministers at the Home Office, the fact that he has such a powerful Ministerial brief, but is not politically answerable to the electorate in any way, is another step down the slippery slope to dictatorship.
Unless and until Gordon Brown repeals this legislation, he is no different from his NuLabour predecessor Tony Blair.